Leptospermum minutifolium

Leptospermum minutifolium, commonly known as the small-leaved tea-tree,[2] 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.

Small-leaved tea-tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. minutifolium
Binomial name
Leptospermum minutifolium
Synonyms[1]
  • Leptospermum flavescens var. minutifolium F.Muell. ex Benth.
  • Leptospermum polygalifolium var. minutifolium (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Domin

Description

Leptospermum minutifolium is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in–6 ft 7 in). It has variable bark, sometimes thin and rough, otherwise smooth and flaking. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. The flowers are white, about 8 mm (0.31 in) wide and arranged singly on the ends of short side shoots. The floral cup is glabrous, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, the sepals 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long, the petals 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and the stamens 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from October to November and the fruit is a capsule 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide that remains on the plant at maturity.[3][4]

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.[5][6]

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.[3][4]

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