| Tasmania
has 29 native species of Eucalyptus. Trees of this genus
dominate much of Tasmania's vegetation. Although there are large
differences between species, it is sometimes difficult to identify
some plants because of hybrisation between related species. There
are two major groups of eucalypts in Tasmania. The symphiomyrts (the
gums) have 1, 3 or 7 flowers per inflorescence, and have an inner
and an outer operculum (see the photo of E. johnstonii). The
leaves usually smell strongly of eucalyptus oil when crushed, and
the veins usually spread widely from the midrib. The monocalypts
(the ashes and peppermints) have many flowers per inflorescence
(although some may be lost in development) and only one operculum
per flower. The leaves have a "peppermint" smell and veins that
usually spread at low angles from the midrib (usually <40 degrees). |
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