Leptospermum squarrosum

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Peach blossom tea-tree
Leptospermum squarrosum.jpg
Flower
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. squarrosum
Binomial name
Leptospermum squarrosum
Synonyms [1]
  • Leptospermum baccatum var. roseum S.Schauer
  • Leptospermum persiciflorum Rchb.
  • Leptospermum scoparium var. grandiflorum Hook.
  • Leptospermum scoparium var. squarrosum(Gaertn.) Dum.Cours.
  • Leptospermum scoparium var. vulgare Domin nom. illeg.
  • Philadelphus squarrosus Sol. ex Gaertn. nom. inval., pro syn.
Fruit Leptospermum squarrosum fruit (6052792556).jpg
Fruit

Leptospermum squarrosum, commonly known as the peach blossom tea-tree, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Leptospermum squarrosum is an erect shrub of variable habit, growing to a height of less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) to 4 m (13 ft) or more and has thin, firm bark. Young stem are silky-hairy at first, soon glabrous. The leaves are variable but mostly broadly lance-shaped to elliptical, 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long and 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) wide with a sharply-pointed tip and tapering to a short petiole. The flowers are white or pink, mostly 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide and arranged singly on short side shoots. The floral cup is sessile, 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) long and glabrous. The sepals are also glabrous, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, the five petals 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) long and the stamens 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long. Flowering mostly occurs from March to April and the fruit is a capsule mostly 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) wide that remain on the plant at maturity. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Leptospermum squarrosum was first formally described in 1788 by Joseph Gaertner in his book De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum from specimens collected by Joseph Banks. [6] [7]

Distribution and habitat

Peach blossom tea-tree gows in shrubland on sandstone soils in coastal areas and nearby tablelands of New South Wales, but especially in the Sydney region. [2] [3]

Use in horticulture

This tea-tree is a hardy shrub that grows best in a sunny situation in well-drained soil, but is salt-resistant and tolerates exposed positions. [4]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Angophora costata</i> Species of tree

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

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<i>Corymbia gummifera</i> Species of plant

Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as red bloodwood, is a species of tree, rarely a mallee, that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<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>Melaleuca viminalis</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Melaleuca viridiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca viridiflora, commonly known as broad-leaved paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is native to woodlands, swamps and streams in monsoonal areas of northern Australia and New Guinea. It is usually a small tree with an open canopy, papery bark and spikes of cream, yellow, green or red flowers.

<i>Melaleuca nodosa</i> Species of plant

Melaleuca nodosa, commonly known as the prickly-leaved paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with narrow, sometimes needle-like leaves and profuse heads of yellow flowers as early as April or as late as January.

<i>Baeckea imbricata</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea imbricata, commonly known as heath myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with elliptical to egg-shaped or round leaves and small white flowers with five to twelve stamens.

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

Leptospermum morrisonii is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has strongly aromatic, elliptical to lance-shaped or curved leaves, white or greenish white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant. It occurs in the south-east of the state.

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

Leptospermum spinescens, commonly known as the spiny tea tree, is a species of spiny shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, egg-shaped to elliptical leaves on a short petiole, white or greenish cream flowers, and fruit that remain in the plant for years after reaching maturity.

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

Leptospermum arachnoides, commonly known as the spidery tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough bark, crowded linear to lance-shaped leaves with a sharp point on the end, white flowers and hairy fruit.

<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 and south-central 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 deanei</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum deanei, commonly known as Deane's tea-tree, is a species of rare, slender shrub that is endemic to the northern suburbs of Sydney. It has bark peeling in long strips from the older stems, hairy young stems, narrow elliptical to lance-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and mostly glabrous fruit.

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

Leptospermum brevipes, commonly known as the slender tea-tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has fibrous bark on the main stems, smooth bark on young stems, narrow elliptical to narrow egg-shaped leaves, white flowers and hemispherical fruit that is shed when mature.

<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 luehmannii</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum luehmannii is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has glossy green elliptic leaves, white flowers and fruit that falls from the plant shortly after the seeds are released.

Leptospermum pallidum is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to Queensland. It has thin, firm, rough bark, narrow lance-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged in groups of two or three on side shoots and fruit that remains on the plant until it dies.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Leptospermum squarrosum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Leptospermum squarrosum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 421–422.
  4. 1 2 "Leptospermum squarrosum". Australian National Botanic Gardens. 16 December 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  5. "Leptospermum squarrosum". Friends of Lane Cove National Park. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  6. "Leptospermum squarrosum". APNI. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. Gaertner, Joseph (1788). De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum. Stuttgart: Sumtibus Auctoris, Typis Academiae Carolinae. p. 174. Retrieved 11 June 2020.