272 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



myrtles, also, have glands in all their parts, which secrete ethereal oils that give 

 the plants an aromatic odour. This is, perhaps, the most striking character of 

 the family. The corolla is usually white, and the filaments, which are often a 

 bright red, serve as the chief organs of attraction for insects. Cloves arc the 

 flower buds of a species of Eugenia. Another species of the same genus 

 furnishes the fruit from which allspice is obtained. The guava is the fruit of 

 Psidium guava. The only European species is the well-known Myrtle. 



The oil of eucalyptus, obtained from E. globulus, is antiseptic in its action. 

 This tree is often planted, on account of its rapid growth, for the purpose of 

 drying up swamps, and thus keeping off malarial fevers. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Fruit a capsule. 2 

 Fruit a berry or drupe. 3 



2. Leaves alternate. Leptospermum, p. 272. 

 Leaves opposite. Metrosideros, p. 278. 



3. Seeds solitary. Eugenia, p. 288. 

 Seeds 2 or more. Myrtus, p. 288. 



Genus Leptospermimi. 



Shrubs or trees, with alternate, entire leaves. Flowers regular, white or 

 pink. Calyx 5-lobed, petals 5 ; stamens numerous. Capsule woody. About 28 

 species, of which .3 belong to New Zealand, and 20 to Australia. 



Leptospermum scoparium (The Manuka Broom). 



A shrub or tree, sometimes 30 ft. in height. Leaves leathery, hard, with 

 sharp points. Flowers scentless, on very short stalks, white or rosy, h, in.-| in. 

 across. Capsule bursting by 4 or 5 valves, very woody. Maori names Manuka, 

 Kahikatoa. Colonists' name, Tea-Tree. Both islands. Fl. Nov. -April. 



This is the most abundant of New Zealand shrubs. It is 

 the colonial counterpart of the English broom and gorse, and 

 is as beautiful as either of these. One of the loveliest sights 

 of the land is a great valley at Christmas-time, clad with 

 Leptospermum in full flower. From the distance of a mile or 

 two, the country seems to be spread with a sheet of snow, so 

 profusely does the plant flower. A variety is known which 

 has the petals splashed with deep crimson. It is often 

 cultivated in gardens, and vies in beauty with many more 

 pretentious blooms. 



To the Maoris the tree was known as the manuka. By the 

 settlers it is generally called tea-tree. It has acquired this 

 name because early voyagers and colonists sometimes used its 



