#agonis

A young tree in this case. The giant wheel on the hillside behind it in the second photo was part of the coastal defences in WWII.

Known to the Noongar people as wanil, wonnow, wonong, or wannang. First formally described in 1809 by German botanist and pharmacist Carl Ludwig Willdenow as Metrosideros flexuosa, and moved to its own genus in 1830 by British horticulturalist and ornithothogist Robert Sweet. Agonis comes from the Greek agon meaning 'a gathering' or 'collection', probably referring to the flower heads, and the Latin flexuosa referring to the zig-zag branches.

Formerly widespread here in SW, growing in coastal heath and woodland, and often as an understory in Tuart forest. Much of that forest has been cut down, which has been disastrous for species like the Western Brushtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) that relies on it for much of its diet.

'...excuse me? What does "emo" mean?'