Desert heath myrtle.

Desert heath myrtle.

Park closure

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park will be temporarily closed on Friday 28 August 2026 from 6 - 11 am (ACST) for the funeral of a senior Aṉangu woman. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park will re-open at 11 am on Friday 28 August.

More information: Temporary park closure Friday 28 August 2026

Desert heath myrtle, or pukaṟa, is a small woody shrub that forms dense stands on the slopes of sand dunes.

Pukaṟa have small compact leaves with no stems and produce small white and pink flowers in winter.

Culture

On winter mornings, Aṉangu women would beat pukaṟa bushes over a wooden bowl to collect the dew, which contained sweet nectar.

Scientific name

Thryptomene maisonneuvei

Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara name

pukaṟa