What is the floral emblem of Queensland, Australia?

The floral emblem of Queensland, Australia, is the Cooktown orchid.

The Cooktown orchid is an orchid species native to northern Queensland and is scientifically known as Vappodes phalaenopsis. Its showy flowers and strong association with tropical Queensland made it a natural state symbol, while its common name refers to Cooktown, in the region where it is especially associated.

Queensland adopted the Cooktown orchid as its official floral emblem on 19 November 1959. The designation belongs to the state, not to Australia as a whole. Australia’s national floral emblem is the golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha.

The other options are emblems of different places or regions. Sturt’s desert pea represents South Australia, waratah is associated with New South Wales, and golden wattle is the national flower of Australia. Those distinctions make the geographic wording important: Queensland’s answer is the Cooktown orchid.