Leptospermum petersonii

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Leptospermum petersonii
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Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. petersonii
Binomial name
Leptospermum petersonii
Synonyms [1]
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flowers

Leptospermum petersonii, commonly known as lemon-scented teatree, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Leptospermum petersonii is a shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of about 5 m (16 ft) or more. It has thin, rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the stems, and glabrous branchlets that have a flange under the leaf bases. New growth is often tinged with red or purple. The leaves are elliptical to narrow lance-shaped, mostly 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide, often strongly-scented and lack a petiole. The flowers are white, about 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) in diameter and usually arranged singly on short side shoots. The flower buds have thin, papery, reddish brown bracts and bracteoles at the base but that usually fall as the bud develops. The floral cup is mostly glabrous, dark-coloured, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and the sepals are hemispherical, 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. The petals are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and the stamens 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from December to January and the fruit is a capsule about 6 mm (0.24 in) wide. The capsules remain on the younger stems but are lost as the plant ages. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum petersonii was first formally described in 1905 by Frederick Manson Bailey in the Queensland Agricultural Journal from a specimen collected by W.J. Peterson on Wilsons Peak in January 1905. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Lemon-scented teatree grows in sclerophyll forest or rainforest near creeks or on rocky escarpments south from Mount Timbeerwah in south-east Queensland to near Port Macquarie in New South Wales. [2] [4] [6] [7]

Ecology

This teatree is commonly grown in gardens from where it sometimes spreads. It has become established in some places beyond its natural range, including in native vegetation near Sydney and Melbourne and in Hawaii. [2] [4] [7]

Uses

Essential oils

The essential oil from L. petersonii inhibits the pathological fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus . [8]

Use in horticulture

Lemon-scented teatree is well known as a garden plant, popular for its scent and attractiveness. It is fast growing and can be kept to shrub height by pruning. The ability to be pruned regularly also makes it well-suited for hedges, windbreaks and harvesting for distilled essential oils. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leptospermum</i> Genus of shrubs

Leptospermum is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of Melaleuca. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the south of the continent, but some are native to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Leptospermums all have five conspicuous petals and five groups of stamens which alternate with the petals. There is a single style in the centre of the flower and the fruit is a woody capsule.

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

Leptospermum recurvum is a species of shrub or tree that is endemic to Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. It has pale, flaky bark, broadly elliptical to almost round leaves, white flowers about 12 mm (0.47 in) wide and fruit that tend to remain on the plant for a year or two.

<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 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 polygalifolium</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum polygalifolium, commonly known as tantoon, jellybush or yellow tea tree, is a species of shrub or tree of the family Myrtaceae that is endemic to eastern Australia, including Lord Howe Island. It has thin bark, elliptical leaves, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit that remain on the plant for a few years.

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

Leptospermum obovatum, commonly known as river teatree, 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.

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.

Leptospermum subtenue is a species of small shrub in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, elliptical, concave leaves, white or pink flowers and fruit that falls from the plant when mature. It occurs to the south of Kalgoorlie.

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

Leptospermum parvifolium, commonly known as lemon-scented tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, rough bark, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white or pink flowers, and fruit with the remains of the sepals attached but that is shed when the seeds are mature.

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

Leptospermum argenteum, commonly known as the Mt Royal tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the higher parts of Barrington Tops in New South Wales. It has smooth bark, stems with a flange along the sides, broad leaves, white flowers and unlike many others in the genus, it is never lemon-scented.

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

Leptospermum barneyense is a species of shrub that is endemic to the Mount Barney National Park in Queensland. It has rough, fibrous bark, young branches with conspicuous flanges, lance-shaped leaves, white or pink flowers and hemispherical fruit.

Leptospermum benwellii is a species of shrub that is endemic to the Nymboida National Park in New South Wales. It has smooth bark, young branches with conspicuous flanges, narrow elliptical leaves, white flowers and thin-walled, bell-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<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.

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.

Leptospermum petraeum is a rigid, spreading plant that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It has thin, flaky bark, young stems that are hairy at first, aromatic, elliptical leaves, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant until it dies.

<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 petersonii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Leptospermum petersonii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 393–395. doi: 10.7751/telopea19894902 .
  4. 1 2 3 Messina, Andre; Ohlsen, Daniel. "Leptospermum petersonii". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. "Leptospermum parvifolium". APNI. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  6. Bean, Anthony R. (1992). "The genus Leptospermum Forst. et Forst.f. (Myrtaceae) in northern Australia and Malesia". Austrobaileya. 3 (4): 654. JSTOR   41738808.
  7. 1 2 "Weeds of Australia - Leptospermum petersonii". Queensland Government - Biosecurity Queensland. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  8. Hood JR, Burton DM, Wilkinson JM, Cavanagh HM., 2010, "The effect of Leptospermum petersonii essential oil on Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus." Medical Mycology Nov;48(7):922-31
  9. Cribb, A.B. & J.W., Useful Wild Plants in Australia, Collins 1982, p29 ISBN   0-00-636397-0