Leptospermum thompsonii

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Monga tea-tree
Leptospermum thompsonii.jpg
Near Clyde Mountain
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. thompsonii
Binomial name
Leptospermum thompsonii

Leptospermum thompsonii, commonly known as the monga tea-tree, [2] is a species of tall shrub that is endemic to south eastern New South Wales. It has rough, flaky bark, broadly elliptical to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and a sharply-pointed tip, white flowers and fruit that remains on the plant at maturity.

Contents

Description

Leptospermum thompsonii is an erect shrub of that grows to a height of 1–6 m (3 ft 3 in–19 ft 8 in) and rough, fibrous or flaky bark and young stems that are covered with soft hairs. The leaves are elliptical to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, mostly 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with a sharply-pointed tip and tapering to a short petiole. The flowers are white, about 15 mm (0.59 in) wide and arranged singly on short side shoots. The floral cup is covered with soft hairs, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long tapering to a very short pedicel. The sepals are also hairy, broadly egg-shaped, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, the five petals 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and the stamens 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. Flowering mostly occurs from December to March and the fruit is a capsule about 10 mm (0.39 in) wide that remains on the plant at maturity. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum thompsonii was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea from specimens collected by John Boorman in 1915. [3] [5] [6] The specific epithet (thompsonii) honours M.M.H. Thompson, the husband of the describing botanist, for his "assistance in the collection and field study of this and many other species". [3]

Distribution and habitat

Monga tea-tree grows in permanently moist or wet habitats in forest and is known from populations in Monga National Park, Budawang National Park and Morton National Park. [2] [3] [7]

Conservation status

This tea-tree is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 . The main threats to the species are altered fire regimes, forestry activities, rubbish dumping and oil spills. [4] [7]

Related Research Articles

<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 grandifolium</i> Species of shrub

The Leptospermum grandifolium, commonly known as mountain tea-tree or woolly teatree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has elliptical to egg-shaped leaves with a sharp point on the tip, white flowers and relatively large, broadly hemispherical fruit.

<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 turbinatum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum turbinatum, commonly known as shiny tea-tree, is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to the Grampians and nearby ranges in Victoria, Australia. It has thin, rough bark, elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remains on the plant at maturity.

<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 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 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 glaucescens</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum glaucescens, commonly known as the blue-green tea tree or smoky tea tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are often greyish green, white flowers about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter arranged in consecutive leaf axils and fruit that remain on the plant for some time after maturity.

<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 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 grandiflorum</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum grandiflorum is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Tasmania. It has thick, elliptical to egg-shaped, greyish green leaves, white flowers about 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter arranged singly on short side branches, and fruit that remain on the plant for long time after reaching maturity.

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

Leptospermum myrtifolium, commonly known as the myrtle tea-tree or grey tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It has broad egg-shaped to elliptical leaves, white flowers usually borne singly on short side shoots, and fruit that remains on the plant until it dies.

<i>Leptospermum novae-angliae</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum novae-angliae is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has elliptical leaves that are usually crowded, single white flowers on short shoots and fruit that remain on the plant until it dies. It usually grows in rocky places.

Leptospermum oreophilum, commonly known as the rock tea tree, is a shrub that is endemic to the Glass House Mountains in southern Queensland. It has firm, rough bark on the older stems, elliptical leaves with a short, blunt point on the tip, relatively large white flowers arranged singly on side shoots and fruit that remains on the plant until it dies.

Leptospermum polyanthum is a rigid, spreading shrub or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has thin, rough bark, young stems that are hairy at first, elliptical leaves, relatively small white flowers and fruit are shed when the seeds are mature.

Leptospermum riparium, commonly known as riverine tea-tree, is a species of straggling shrub that is endemic to Tasmania. It has flaky bark, crowded, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant when mature. It grows on river banks in rainforest.

<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 sericatum</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum sericatum is a species of erect shrub that is endemic to Queensland. It has thin, firm bark, narrow egg-shaped to elliptical leaves, white or pink flowers arranged usually singly on side shoots and fruit that falls from the plant when the seeds are released.

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

Leptospermum sphaerocarpum is a species of shrub that is endemic to New South Wales. It has thin, firm bark, elliptical, sharply-pointed leaves, greenish white or pink flowers and fruit that remain on the plant at maturity.

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

Leptospermum variabile is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, rough or scaly bark, broadly elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers arranged singly on the ends of short side branches, and woody fruit that remains on the plant when mature.

References

  1. ↑ "Leptospermum thompsonii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Leptospermum thompsonii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 430–431. doi: 10.7751/telopea19894902 .
  4. 1 2 "Monga Tea Tree - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Leptospermum thompsonii". APNI. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Boorman, John L. (1864 - 1938)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Approved conservation advice for Leptospermum thompsonii (Monga Tea-tree)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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