Leptospermum erubescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. erubescens
Binomial name
Leptospermum erubescens
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]

Leptospermum erubescens Schauer var. erubescens

Habit east of Dowerin

Leptospermum erubescens, commonly known as the roadside tea tree,[2] is a species of shrub that is endemic to southwest of Western Australia. It has thin, fibrous bark, egg-shaped leaves, small white flowers and woody fruit.

Description

Leptospermum erubescens is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) and has thin, fibrous bark that is shed in long strips. The young stems are thick, have soft hairs at first and spread widely apart from each other. The leaves are sessile, narrow to broadly egg-shaped, mostly 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide. The flowers are borne singly or in pairs on the ends of short shoots that continue to grow after flowering. There are broad, reddish bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower buds, the bracteoles falling off as the flowers develop. The flowers are white or pink, less than 10 mm (0.39 in) wide on a pedicel about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The floral cup is hairy, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and the sepals are dark-coloured, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long with hairy edges. The petals are about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and the stamens in groups of three to five and 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from July to October and the fruit is a woody capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter with the remains of the sepals attached.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

Leptospermum erubescens was first formally described in 1844 by Johannes Conrad Schauer in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[5][6] The specific epithet (erubescens) is from Latin meaning "reddening" or "blushing", referring to the flowers.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The roadside tea-tree grows on road verges, plains, in gullies and among rocky outcrops in heath and woodland. It is widespread in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[2]

Conservation status

This tea-tree is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Leptospermum erubescens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Leptospermum erubescens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 362–363.
  4. ↑ Williams, Simon. "A Beekeeper's Guide to Australian Leptospermum Trees and Honey" (PDF). AgriFutures Australia. p. 49. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "Leptospermum erubescens". APNI. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Schauer, Johannes C.; Lehmann, Johann G.C. (1844). Plantae Preissianae. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. pp. 121–122. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 193. ISBN 9780958034180.
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