Leptospermum minutifolium explained

Leptospermum minutifolium, commonly known as the small-leaved tea-tree,[1] is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has relatively small egg-shaped leaves, white flowers borne singly on the ends of branches and fruit that remains on the plant.

Description

Leptospermum minutifolium is a shrub that typically grows to a height of . It has variable bark, sometimes thin and rough, otherwise smooth and flaking. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, usually long but sometimes up to long, and about wide. The flowers are white, about wide and arranged singly on the ends of short side shoots. The floral cup is glabrous, long, the sepals long, the petals long and the stamens long. Flowering mainly occurs from October to November and the fruit is a capsule wide that remains on the plant at maturity.[2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum minutifolium was first formally described in 1946 by Cyril Tenison White in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland from specimens collected by "Mrs. M.S. Clemens" near Wallangarra.[4] [5]

Distribution and habitat

The small-leaved tea-tree grows in swamps and on rocky creek banks on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Granite Belt of south-east Queensland.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Species profile—Leptospermum minutifolium (small-leaved tea-tree) . Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science . 27 April 2020.
  2. Thompson . Joy . A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) . Telopea . 1989 . 3 . 3 . 406–407. 25 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Leptospermum minutifolium . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 27 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Leptospermum minutifolium. APNI. 27 April 2020.
  5. White . Cyril T. . Contributions to the Flora of Queensland, N. 9 . Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland . 1946 . 57 . 26 . 27 April 2020.