Family Myrtaceae
Characteristics
- range from woody shrubs to tall trees
- leaves are aromatic, containing oil glands
- flowers may be white, pink, red, purple,
yellow. They usually have five sepals and
petals and many stamens. The stamens
are long and conspicuous
- in eucalypts, the petals and sepals are
joined to form a cap over the bud
- fruit is generally woody
- This family was very important to
Aboriginal people. Water was collected
from the roots of certain mallee eucalypts.
The wood and bark of eucalypts and
melaleucas was used to make tools and
utensils such as shields, spear throwers
and bowls. Edible grubs and insects were also provided by some eucalypts.
Four important groups (genera) in the family Myrtaceae are:
- Eucalyptus
- Callistemon
- Melaleuca
- Leptospermum
Flower structure of the genus Callistemon
Flower structure of the genus Melaleuca
