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.
| Leptospermum petraeum | |
|---|---|
| |
| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Leptospermum |
| Species: | L. petraeum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leptospermum petraeum | |
Description
editLeptospermum petraeum is a spreading, rigid shrub that typically grows to a height of about 3 m (9.8 ft). The bark on older stems is thin and flaky, the younger stems hairy with an indistinct flange. The leaves are aromatic, broadly elliptical with a sharp point on the tip, about 15 mm (0.59 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with a distinct petiole. The flowers are borne singly on short side shoots and are white, about 22 mm (0.87 in) wide. There are broad, yellowish-brown bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower bud. The floral cup is mostly glabrous, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and the sepals are hairy, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The petals are about 7 mm (0.28 in) long and the stamens 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long. The flowering period is uncertain but the fruit is a capsule about 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) in diameter, and that remains on the plant until it is burnt.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editLeptospermum petraeum was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea, based on plant material she collected in Kanangra.[3][4] The specific epithet (petraeum) is from a Latin word meaning "growing among rocks", referring to the habitat of this species.[3][5][6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis tea-tree grows is only known from the type population where it grows on an exposed rocky outcrop.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ "Leptospermum petraeum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Leptospermum petraeum". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 436–437.
- ^ "Leptospermum petraeum". APNI. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 275. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 465.