Tea+Tree+Flowers

= Tea Tree Flowers =

Group Members: Brogan, Natalie, Grace, Sandra, May

 * Plant genus:** Leptospermum
 * Common name:** Tea tree flowers
 * Distribution:** Endemic in Australia but great diversity south of Australia, South East Asia e.g. Malaysia and NZ
 * Habit:** Shrubs or small trees (height ranging from 1m to 8m)
 * Habitats:** Variety; ranges from coastal dunes to high mountain peaks. Most commonly found in wet places that are acidic and low in nutrient content.

Floral morphology and visitations:
General appearance: Fusion of sepal around base also forming cup like formation. Round petals following cup-like small flowers. It was noted the filaments of the stamen were fused to each other forming a crown-like structure.
 * Male structures:** Stamen round the outside attached to the petal.
 * Female structures:** Stigma in the centre attached to style (See Figure 1)

Figure 1. Tea Tree Flowers. Figure 2: Branching of flowers off stem

Variability of floral morphology:
Measurements Summary: (see table 1 and 2 below for raw data)
 * Average diameter (petal to petal)** 13.08 mm (SD 2.07 mm)
 * Average height of flower (Sepal to top stigma)** 8.78 mm (SD 1.54 mm)
 * Average height of stigma** 5.02mm (SD 0.79mm)
 * Average distance between stamen and stigma** 3.44mm (SD 0.35 mm)
 * Average width of petal** 4.53 mm (SD 1.2)

Table 1: Measurements of flowers It was noted that flowers typically offshoot in pairs. (NB: Average of six flowers measured using vernier callipers (see Figure3); SD= Standard Deviation) Figure 3. Vernier callipers indicating branch and flower size
 * Flower number || Shape || Colour || Diameter: petal to petal (mm) || Height: sepal to stigma tip (mm) || Height of stigma (mm) || Distance: stamen to stigma (mm) ||
 * 1 || circular cup || magenta || 11 || 8.75 || 3.5 || 3.95 ||
 * 2 || circular cup || magenta || 10 || 11.15 || 5 || 3.5 ||
 * 3 || circular cup || magenta || 14 || 10 || 5.7 || 3.6 ||
 * 4 || circular cup || magenta || 14.1 || 8.2 || 5.1 || 3.4 ||
 * 5 || circular cup || magenta || 14.2 || 7.4 || 5.5 || 2.9 ||
 * 6 || circular cup || magenta || 15.2 || 7.2 || 5.3 || 3.3 ||
 * Average ||  ||   || 13.08 || 8.78 || 5.02 || 3.44 ||
 * SD ||  ||   || 2.07 || 1.54 || 0.79 || 0.35 ||
 * Table 2**: Width measurements of petals
 * Petal 1 || Petal 2 || Petal 3 || Petal 4 || Petal 5 ||
 * 5.35 || 6 || 6.25 || 4.9 || 5.6 ||
 * 5.3 || 6.1 || 5.6 || 5.5 || 5.3 ||
 * 5.8 || 6 || 4.9 || 6.15 || 5.2 ||
 * 2.6 || 3.5 || 2.9 || 3.4 || 3.1 ||
 * 3.5 || 2.4 || 3.5 || 3.3 || 3.5 ||
 * 4.2 || 3.5 || 4.7 || 3.5 || 4.3 ||
 * Average width of all five petals: || 4.53 ||  ||
 * SD ||  ||   || 1.2 ||   ||
 * Potential sources of error:** accuracy- human error, damaged flowers, drying out
 * Angle of flowers from plant:** Approximately 40 degrees (see Figure 2 above).

Pollen Morphology:

 * Abundance:** High
 * How to count no. of pollen grains:** too many to count, if we were to count- a defined area under the microscope
 * Size:** 240 micrometers
 * Shape:** Triangular pillow (See Figure 4)

Figure 4: Triangular pollen grains stained with fuchsin gelatin under light microscope.

Nectar Characterization:
Nectar is generally harvested by bees and beetles which fit with the small size of the flowers. (see Figure 5) Figure 4. Visual comparative depiction of small flower size
 * Typical volume of nectar per flower:** Nectar all dried up in specimen
 * Typical sugar content of nectar per flower:**

Sources:

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum
 * http://www.anbg.gov.au/leptospermum/index.html


 * 2.071151 ||