Leptospermum rotundifolium, commonly known as round-leaved tea tree,[2] is a species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales, naturalised in Victoria and Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with more or less circular leaves but with a small point on the tip, and relatively large pink or white flowers.
| Round leaf tea-tree | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leptospermum rotundifolium | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Leptospermum |
| Species: | L. rotundifolium
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leptospermum rotundifolium | |
Description
editLeptospermum rotundifolium is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in). The bark on mature specimens is gnarled and slightly flaky. The leaves are thick, more or less circular with a small, blunt point on the tip, mostly 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long and wide on a petiole about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. They are smooth and slightly shiny and give off an aromatic perfume when bruised. The flowers are borne singly, 25–30 mm (0.98–1.18 in) in diameter and are sessile, the sepals 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, the petals 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long and white or pink. Flowering occurs from October to December and the fruit are hemispherical and mostly 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) in diameter.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy
editThis tea-tree was first formally described in 1900 by Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche who gave it the name Leptospermum scoparium var. rotundifolium in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from specimens collected south of the Shoalhaven River in 1900.[6][7]
In 1919, Edwin Cheel published a paper in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales[8] crediting Frederick Arthur Rodway with raising the variety to species status as Leptospermum rotundifolium.[9]
Distribution and habitat
editLeptospermum rotundifolium grows in rocky places in shrubby heath or forest from near Sydney to Nerriga in near-coastal areas of New South Wales. It has also been naturalised in a small area in the Shire of Manjimup in south-western Western Australia[10] and was recorded once in eastern Victoria.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Leptospermum rotundifolium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Leptospermum rotundifolium Round-leaved Tea Tree". Australian National Botanic Gardens. 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Leptospermum rotundifolium". Australian Native Plant Society. February 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ a b Messina, Andre; Ohlsen, Daniel. "Leptospermum rotundifolium". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Leptospermum rotundifolium (Maiden & Betche) F.Rodway". PlantNet. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- ^ "Leptospermum scoparium var. rotundifolium". APNI. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Maiden, Joseph; Betche, Ernst (1900). "Notes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 25 (1): 101. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Cheel, Edwin (1919). "Three new species of Leptospermum". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 53: 122. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Leptospermum rotundifolium". APNI. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Leptospermum rotundifolium". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.