Leptospermum obovatum

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River teatree
Leptospermum obovatum flowers.jpg
Leptospermum obovatum in Namadgi National Park
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. obovatum
Binomial name
Leptospermum obovatum
Synonyms [1]
  • Leptospermum flavescens f. obovatum(Sweet) F.Muell. ex Siebert & Voss
  • Leptospermum flavescens var. obovatum(Sweet) F.Muell. ex Benth.
  • Leptospermum polygalifolium var. obovatum(Sweet) Domin
Fruit in the Jardi Botanic de Barcelona Leptospermum obovatum.jpg
Fruit in the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona

Leptospermum obovatum, commonly known as river teatree, [2] is a species of shrub that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves that are narrower at the base, white flowers usually arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit that remains on the plant until it dies.

Contents

Description

Leptospermum obovatum is a densely foliaged shrub that typically grows to a height of about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) with thin, firm bark on the older stems. It has aromatic, egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves that are narrower at the base, 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long and 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) or more wide on a very short petiole. The flowers are borne singly, sometimes in pairs on short side shoots. The flowers are white, 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) wide with reddish brown bracts at the base of the flower bud but that fall before the flowers open. The floral cup is glabrous, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long on a short pedicel. The sepals are triangular to broadly egg-shaped or almost round, 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long, the petals 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the stamens 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from November to January and the fruit is a broadly hemispherical capsule 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) in diameter and that remains on the plant until it dies, the sepal remnants having fallen. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum obovatum was first formally described by in 1827 Robert Sweet in his book Flora Australasica. [5] The specific epithet (obovatum) is a Latin word meaning "obovate". [6]

Distribution and habitat

River teatree grows among rocks, near swift-flowing streams and often in swampy places. It is found on the Southern Tablelands and South Coast of New South Wales and is widespread in southern Victoria. [2] [3] [4]

Use in horticulture

This species can be grown from seed or from cuttings and is hardy in cultivation. It will grow in heavy shade, is frost hardy, and a useful screening plant. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leptospermum laevigatum</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum laevigatum, commonly known as the coast tea tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia, but has been widely introduced in other places where it is often considered to be a weed. It has thin, rough bark on the older stems, narrow egg-shaped leaves, relatively large white flowers and flat topped fruit that is shed shortly after reaching maturity.

<i>Leptospermum petersonii</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum petersonii, commonly known as lemon-scented teatree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, fibrous or flaky bark, often strongly-scented elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, white flowers and fruit that are retained for several years. It is commonly grown as an ornamental and is regarded as a minor environmental weed in some areas.

<i>Leptospermum liversidgei</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum liversidgei, commonly known as the olive tea-tree, is a species of compact shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has narrow egg-shaped, lemon-scented leaves, white or pink flowers and woody fruit that remain on the plant at maturity.

<i>Leptospermum squarrosum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum squarrosum, commonly known as the peach blossom tea-tree, is an upright shrub of the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to central eastern New South Wales. It has thin, firm bark, broadly lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, relatively large white or pink flowers and fruit that remain on the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum trinervium</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum trinervium, commonly known as flaky-barked tea-tree, slender tea-tree or paperbark tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has papery bark that is shed in thin, flaking layers, narrow elliptic to broadly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower at the base, white flowers and silky-hairy fruit that falls from the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum continentale</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum continentale, commonly known as prickly tea-tree, is a species of slender, straggling shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has sharp-pointed, narrowly egg-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils and woody fruit that remains on the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum juniperinum</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum juniperinum, commonly known as the prickly tea tree, is a species of broom-like shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has narrow, sharply pointed leaves, white flowers usually arranged singly on short side shoots and small fruit that remain on the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum spectabile</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum spectabile is a species of shrub that is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It has thin bark, narrow elliptic leaves, dark red flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and relatively large fruit.

<i>Leptospermum maxwellii</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum maxwellii is a species of often low-growing shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thin, flaking bark, egg-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit with the remains of the sepals attached.

Leptospermum roei is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has thin, fibrous bark, long egg-shaped to narrow wedge-shaped leaves, white or pink flowers and small fruit that are shed with the seeds.

<i>Leptospermum coriaceum</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum coriaceum, commonly known as green tea-tree or mallee teatree, is a shrub species that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth bark on the younger stems, elliptic to narrow egg-shaped leaves, white flowers and woody fruit. The usual habitat is mallee on sand dunes.

<i>Leptospermum multicaule</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum multicaule, commonly known as the silver tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has linear, narrow elliptical or narrow egg-shaped leaves, white or pink flowers usually borne singly on short side shoots, and fruit the falls from the plant soon after the seeds are released.

<i>Leptospermum emarginatum</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum emarginatum, commonly known as the twin-flower tea-tree or twin flower teatree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough bark on the older stems, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and a small notch at the tip, white flowers in groups of up to five and hemispherical fruit that falls off when mature.

<i>Leptospermum glabrescens</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum glabrescens, commonly known as the smooth teatree, is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to East Gippsland in Victoria, Australia. It has linear, elliptic or narrow egg-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit that remain on the plant.

<i>Leptospermum gregarium</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum gregarium is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. Its young stems are hairy the leaves are egg-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, the flowers are white and arranged singly or in pairs on short side branches and the fruit remain on the plant at maturity. It usually grows in dense stands in swamps or along rocky creeks in high altitude place in northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland.

<i>Leptospermum minutifolium</i> Species of shrub


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

<i>Leptospermum namadgiense</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum namadgiense is a species of small shrub that is endemic to areas near the border between New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has silky-hairy, narrow lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, usually white flowers borne singly or in pairs on short side shoots, and fruit that falls from the plant shortly after the seeds are released.

<i>Leptospermum sejunctum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum sejunctum is a shrub that is endemic to the Nowra district in New South Wales. It has thin, grey bark, lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant at maturity.

<i>Leptospermum subglabratum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum subglabratum is a species of open shrub that is endemic to a south-eastern New South Wales. It has thin, rough bark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and relatively small fruit that falls from the plant at maturity.

<i>Leptospermum wooroonooran</i> Species of tree

Leptospermum wooroonooran, commonly known as wurunuru or mountain teatree, is a species of stunted tree that is endemic to Queensland where it grows on exposed mountain ridges. It has thin, fibrous or flaky bark, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit remain on the plant at maturity.

References

  1. 1 2 "Leptospermum obovatum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Lyne, Andrew. "Leptospermum obovatum". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 412–413.
  4. 1 2 "Leptospermum obovatum". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. "Leptospermum obovatum". APNI. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 454.
  7. "Leptospermum obovatum". Information about Australia's Flora. Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Retrieved 7 March 2015.