Two botanical wonders are wowing visitors to the Royal National Park.
The mass flowering of Grass Trees and Gymea Lilies have created a superb vista for park visitors.
Bob Crombie, a former Royal National Park ranger, said although these species flower every year, it is only every now and again when conditions are right that they flower en masse.
"This year it is the combination of the fires that burnt the park in February, and the weather conditions since, that have led to these very beautiful shows, which are true botanical marvels," Mr Crombie said.
"The best place to see the Grass Trees is two kilometres in on the Curra Moors Track at its junction with the Garie Headland Track.
"That's where the largest grove in the park of two species of Grass Tree or Xanthorrhoea can be found.
"The smaller of the species has finished flowering and is going to seed. It is the larger one that is in full bloom."
Mr Crobbie, who is a leader in the campaign for the Royal Nationa Park to be added to the world heritage list, said Xanthorrhoeas are very important to the ecology of the park.
"The flowers are rich in nectar and support many species of bird and insects," he said.
"Grass trees are also very important for Australian native bees. Not only do a range of native bee species visit Xanthorrhoea flowers for pollen and nectar, but some species also make nests within the pithy stems of old, dry flower stalks.
"So, if you have grass trees in your garden, or see them in the bush, don't remove old flower stalks! Even fallen and broken stalks will support hives."
Mr Crombie said the flowering stalks, with bee hives in them, are sometime stolen from the bush and sold to the public to put in their back yards.
"These people are being duped and this practice can cause much harm to the communities from which the hives are collected," he said.
"Earlier this year, thieves stole many native bee hives from the Grass Trees along Wattamolla Road in Royal National Park.
"The loss of these bees from the park is a serious blow to its ecology."
Mr Crombie said the best place to see the beautiful, large, red flowers and inflorescences of the Gymea Lilies is along Bertram Stevens Drive between the Wallumarra Track and the Curra Moors Track.
"The flowers are particularly rich in nectar and a favourite of honeyeater birds. The nectar contains special defence metabolites that, when eaten by non-pollinating species, makes them sick.
"They do not come back for a second helping after one feed and thus the plant is able to protect its precious nectar and save it only for pollinating species that are adapted to the defence metabolites.
"Their old flowering stalks are also very important for native bees to build their hives and should be left alone."
