The manuka,
Leptospermum scoparium, is in flower and I spent a happy hour taking photographs of its pretty flower. From a distance the flowers look quite ordinary but their beauty is revealed on closer inspection.
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| Flower buds developing on manuka branches |
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| Semi-opened flower |
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| What a pretty thing |
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Close-up of a manuka flower showing a number of stamens around the
central carpel (stigma, style and ovary) |
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| Side view of manuka flower (above and below) |
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| Close-up of ovary |
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| Older flower where the ovary has turned red |
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| Older flower - red ovary and petals have dropped off |
There are some excellent photos and explanations of manuka on the
T.E.R.R.A.I.N website and a good cross-section photo on
Botany Word of the Day website.
After about 6 weeks, the petals drop off and the flower fruits as a woody capsule containing many seeds, most of which are infertile. More information on the manuka can be found
here and
here.
