Halina Steele

Halina loves Australian native flora and fauna for its uniqueness and diversity and has developed a strong focus on the environment, especially the conservation of rare and endangered flora and fauna. She has painted several rare and endangered species including Eucalyptus recurva, Hakea pulvinifera, Hibiscus insularis and Grevillea iaspicula.

In May 2015, Halina was awarded a Gold Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society Malvern UK and Best Botanical Art Exhibit and one of the works (Eucalyptus recurva) is now held at the Lindley Library London. The image appears in the publication, RHS Botanical Illustration: The Gold Medal Winners. Halina is a member of the Florilegium Society at the RBGSyd Inc (Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney) and her paintings are being held by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney, NSW. These works appear in the publications, The Florilegium: Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Celebrating 200 Years and Botanic Endeavour: The Florilegium Society celebrates the Banks and Solander collection. Halina was awarded a Silver Medal by the RHS London in November 2004 and has had works accepted for the 12th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration at the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Syzygium suborbiculare
Forest satinash

$1850

Watercolour

680 x 500 mm

An evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading, rounded crown, Syzygium suborbiculare is part of the lilly pilly family and grows to about 8-12 metres. Flowering period is from July to October followed by red fruit which can vary in size from 3 cm to almost 10 cm in diameter. Aborigines are known to use the fruit for colds and chest congestion and squeeze the juice and pulp into their ears to relieve earache. The leaves are made into a tea to treat stomach problems, while heated leaves can be applied to wounds to stop bleeding and swelling. The fruit is also eaten by Palm Cockatoos. Distribution is Western Australia, Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula and north-east Queensland with an altitudinal range from sea level to 250 m. Syzygium suborbiculare usually grows in open forest but can also be found in or on the margins of rainforest and in beech forest.