]0 May, hut. I Bee-keeping in Victoria. • 3GJi 



BEE-KEEPING IN VICTORIA. 



/ti/ F. R. Beuhne, ApicuUurist. 



XXVI— THE HONEY FLORA OF WC'YO'KIK— continued. 



(Continued from page ll(i.) 



The >[anuka (Lcptuspirmiim scoparium). 

 (Figs. 64 and 65.) 



Of the seven species of Leptospermum found in Victoria the Manuka 

 is the most widely distributed. Manuka is the aboriginal name, but it 

 is known in the bush as Tea-Tree, Ti-Tree, and Wild May. It is a 

 rigiu, very much branched shrub, and the young shoots have generally 

 a silky ap|)earance. In alpine situations it is sometimes low and almost 

 prostrate, but more usually erect and attaining occasionally to a height 

 of 12 feet. The leaves are from egg-shaped jx)inted to narrow-lance 

 shaped, sharply pointed, and generally under ^ inch long. The 

 adult foliage is usually smooth and hairless. The flowers are white, 

 stalkless, and occur singly in the axils of leaves or terminating short 

 lateral branchlets in rhe case of forms flowering early in the season 

 (Fig. 64), while in late districts the flowers are well down 

 below the new leaf growth (Fig. 65), so that the two forms 

 give the impression of being two distinct species. There is 

 also great variation in the shape and size of the leaves of 

 this species in different localties, and as the different species 

 merge into one another they are very difficult to distinguish. From the 

 apiarist's point of view, however, there is little difference between the 

 species, the honey from all of them having the same characteristics. The 

 Manuka is common in Victoria in heathlands and moist situations. It 

 flowers according to locality in October, November, December, Janiiary. 

 and February, Fig. 64 representing it up to December. The forms 

 flowering in January and February are shown in Fig. 65. 



The Coast Tea Tree (Leptospermum lavigatum). 



This is the common Tea Tree, ])lentiful in the sandy country along 

 the sea shore; it is, however, also found inland. In size it ranges from 

 a shrub to a small tree attaining a height of 20 to 30 feet. 



The leaves are oblong, broader at the end, or narrow, oblong, and 

 blunt ended i to J inch, but sometimes 1 inch long, more or less visiblv 

 three nerved. The foliage has a dull appearance. The flowers are white, 

 and rather large in comparison with the other species. They are stalkless 

 and occur at shoulders, singly, and on rare occasions two together, on a 

 short common stalklet. The fruit is five to ten celled, and almost flat 

 topped. 



The Coast Tea Tree is useful in binding loose sand and when closely 

 planted makes a good hedge ; it flowers in September and October, and 

 is the cause of the strong flavour of honey from hives near the sea side. 



The Woolly Tea Tree {Leptospermum lanifferinn). 

 A tall shrub, sometimes growing into a small tree, rarely low and 

 bushy. The branchlets and the underside of the leaves usually beset 



