Calytrix tetragona

Labill.

Common Fringe myrtle

Myrtaceae Edible: Fruit 6,433 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Calytrix tetragona, commonly known as common fringe-myrtle is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to all states of Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and dense clusters of white or pink flowers with about 23 to 45 stamens.

Description

A shrub. It grows about 1-2 m tall. It can spread 0.8-2 m wide. It has a smell. It has many stems from the base. The branches are slender and often arch over. The leaves are narrow and about 1 cm long by 1 mm wide. They often have finely fringed edges. The flowers are white or pink and star-like. They are 1.5 cm across. They occur in dense clusters. These are in the axils of upper leaves. The fruit is bristly and deep purple-brown. The plant turns purplish-red after petals drop.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible.

Distribution

It grows in heathlands near the coast. It is a temperate plant. They require well drained, light textured soil. Soils of low nutrient content are best. It can grow in semiarid places. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Tasmania*,

Notes

There are about 70-75 Calytrix species.

References (24)

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Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 194
Collier, P., 1993, Woodland Wild flowers of Tasmania. Plant Identikit. Society for growing Australian Plants Tasmania Region. Hobart.
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 83

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