Leptospermum
Leptospermum | |
---|---|
Leptospermum squarrosum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Tribe: | Leptospermeae |
Genus: | Leptospermum J.R.Forster & G.Forster[1] |
Synonyms[1] | |
Leptospermum
The first formal description of a leptospermum was published in 1776 by the
Description
Plants in the genus Leptospermum range in size from prostrate shrubs to small trees, and have fibrous, flaky or papery bark. The leaves are arranged alternately and are relatively small, rigid and often aromatic when crushed. The flowers may be solitary or in groups, and have bracteoles and sepals which in most species fall off as the flower opens. There are five spreading, conspicuous petals which are white, pink or red. There are many stamens which are usually shorter than the petals and in five groups opposite the stamens, although they often appear not to be grouped. A simple style usually arises from a small depression in the ovary which has from three to five sections in most species, each section containing a few to many ovules. The fruit is a woody capsule which opens at the top to release the seeds, although in some species this does not occur until the plant, or the part of it, dies.[4][5][6]
Taxonomy and naming
The first formal description of a leptospermum was published by Johann Reinhold Forster and Johann Georg Adam Forster in their 1776 book,
In 1979,
The common name tea tree derives from the practice of early Australian settlers who soaked the leaves of several species in boiling water to make a herbal tea.[14] The genus name (Leptospermum) means "slender-seeded".[15]
Distribution and habitat
Most Leptospermum species are endemic to Australia where most are found in southern areas of the country. They are most common in moist, nutrient-poor soils although they sometimes occupy other situations.
Ecology
In Australia, Leptospermum species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus, including A. lewinii and A. ligniveren. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down.
Uses
Use in horticulture
Most Leptospermum species make desirable garden plants. The hardiest species (L. lanigerum, L. liversidgei, L. polygalifolium, L. rupestre, L. scoparium) are hardy to about −8 °C (18 °F) to −10 °C (14 °F); others are sensitive to frost. They tolerate most soils, but many suppliers specify ericaceous (i.e. lime-free) compost with good drainage and full sun. Established plants are drought tolerant. They are often found as hedge plants on the west coast of the United States, and some species are popular for cultivation as bonsai. Many cultivars exist.
Use in floristry
These flowers are also grown in double cultivars and are used in floral designs. However, they do not last when out of water and the single flowers do not last when wired. The 'Pacific Beauty' (Leptospermum polygalifolium) is a useful flower to use in large church-service bowls and function arrangements, however use of Leptospermum in corporate designs is less desirable as they dry and drop when subjected to heating and air conditioning.
Honey production
The
Species
The following is a list of species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at March 2020,[1] apart from two species (L. javanicum and L. recurvum) only occurring outside Australia that are accepted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:[20]
- Leptospermum amboinense Blume - Qld, Malesia
- A.R.Bean- Qld
- Leptospermum arachnoides Gaertn. spidery tea-tree - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum argenteum Joy Thomps. Mt Royal tea-tree - NSW
- Leptospermum barneyense A.R.Bean - Qld
- Leptospermum benwellii A.R.Bean - NSW
- Leptospermum blakelyi Joy Thomps. - NSW
- F.Muell.) Druce- Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum brevipes F.Muell. slender tea-tree - Qld, NSW, Vic
- Leptospermum brevipes F.Muell. × Leptospermum microcarpum Cheel - Qld
- Leptospermum confertum Joy Thomps. - WA
- Leptospermum continentale Joy Thomps. prickly tea-tree - NSW, Vic, SA
- Leptospermum coriaceum (F.Muell.) Cheel green tea-tree, mallee teatree - NSW, Vic, SA
- Leptospermum crassifolium Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum deanei Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum deuense Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum divaricatum Schauer - NSW
- H.L.Wendl. ex Link- NSW, Vic
- Leptospermum epacridoideum Cheel - NSW
- Leptospermum erubescens Schauer - WA
- Leptospermum exsertum Joy Thomps. - WA
- S.Moore- WA, SA
- N.A.Wakef.- Vic
- Leptospermum glaucescens S.Schauer - Tas
- - Tas
- Sm.- NSW, Vic
- Leptospermum gregarium Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW
- Turcz.- WA
- Leptospermum inelegans Joy Thomps. - WA
- Leptospermum javanicum Blume - Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
- Crisp- Vic
- Leptospermum juniperinum Sm. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F.Muell. - NSW, Vic, SA, Tas
- Leptospermum lamellatum Joy Thomps. - Qld
- Leptospermum lanigerum (Sol. ex Aiton) Sm. - Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, Tas
- H.G.Sm.- Qld, NSW
- F.M.Bailey- Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum macgillivrayi Joy Thomps. - WA
- Leptospermum macrocarpum (Maiden & Betche) Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum madidum A.R.Bean - Qld, WA, NT
- Leptospermum madidum A.R.Bean subsp. madidum - Qld
- Leptospermum madidum subsp. sativum A.R.Bean - WA, NT
- Leptospermum maxwellii S.Moore - WA
- Leptospermum microcarpum Cheel - Qld, NSW
- Miq.- NSW, Vic
- C.T.White- Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum morrisonii Joy Thomps. - NSW
- A.Cunn.- NSW, ACT, Vic
- Schltdl.- NSW, Vic, SA
- DC.- NSW, ACT, Vic
- Leptospermum namadgiense Lyne - NSW, ACT
- Leptospermum neglectum Joy Thomps. - Qld
- Leptospermum nitens Turcz. - WA
- Hook.f.- Tas
- Leptospermum novae-angliae Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum obovatum Sweet - NSW, Vic
- Leptospermum oligandrum Turcz. - WA
- Leptospermum oreophilum Joy Thomps. - Qld
- Leptospermum pallidum A.R.Bean - Qld
- Leptospermum parvifolium Sm. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum petersonii F.M.Bailey - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum petraeum Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum polyanthum Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Salisb.- Qld, NSW, Lord Howe Island
- Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. howense Joy Thomps. - Lord Howe Island
- Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. montanum Joy Thomps.
- Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. subsp. polygalifolium - NSW
- Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. transmontanum Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. tropicum Joy Thomps. - Qld
- Leptospermum purpurascens Joy Thomps. - Qld
- Leptospermum recurvum Hook.f. - Sabah, Sulawesi
- Leptospermum riparium D.I.Morris - Tas
- Leptospermum roei Benth. - WA
- Leptospermum rotundifolium (Maiden & Betche) F.A.Rodway - NSW
- Leptospermum rupestre Hook.f. - Tas
- Leptospermum rupicola Joy Thomps. - NSW
- G.Forst.- Vic, NSW, Tas, NZ
- Leptospermum sejunctum Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum semibaccatum Cheel - Qld, NSW
- Lindl.- Qld
- Labill.- WA
- Leptospermum speciosum Schauer - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum spectabile Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum sphaerocarpum Cheel - NSW
- Endl.- WA
- Leptospermum squarrosum Gaertn. - NSW
- Leptospermum subglabratum Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum subtenue Joy Thomps. - WA
- Leptospermum thompsonii Joy Thomps. - NSW
- Leptospermum trinervium (Sm.) Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW, Vic
- Leptospermum turbinatum Joy Thomps. - Vic
- Leptospermum variabile Joy Thomps. - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum venustum A.R.Bean - Qld
- Leptospermum whitei Cheel - Qld, NSW
- Leptospermum wooroonooran F.M.Bailey - Qld
References
- ^ a b c "Leptospermum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ^ "Leptospermum". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
- ^ ISBN 978-0207168673.
- ^ "Genus Leptospermum". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ "Leptospermum and its Relatives - Background". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ "Leptospermum". APNI. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ Forster, Johann Reinhold; Forster, Johann Georg Adam (1776). Characteres Generum Plantarum. London: Prostant apud B. White, T. Cadell, & P. Elmsly. p. 71. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ Bentham, George (1867). "Orders XLVIII. Myrtaceae- LXII. Compositae". Flora Australiensis. 3: 100–111. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ Briggs, Barbara Gillian (1979). "Evolution in the Myrtaceae - Evidence from inflorescence structure". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 102 (4): 157–256. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ .
- ISSN 0067-1924.
- PMID 26211451.
- ^ "Leptospermum - family Myrtaceae Commonly known as "teatrees"". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ "Leptospermum scoparium". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney; plantnet. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- S2CID 53515334.
- ^ "Growing and harvesting Mānuka honey". New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Native honey a sweet antibacterialArchived 2011-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Geographic, March 3, 2011.
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families