Leptospermum liversidgei
{{Short description|Species of shrub}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Olive tea-tree
|image = Leptospermum liversidgei.jpg
|image_caption = Leptospermum liversidgei in Maranoa Gardens
|genus = Leptospermum
|species = liversidgei
|authority = R.T.Baker & H.G.Sm.{{cite web|title=Leptospermum liversidgei|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/98973|publisher=Australian Plant Census|accessdate=14 April 2020}}
|synonyms =
- Leptospermum flavescens var. citriodorum F.M.Bailey
- Leptospermum polygalifolium var. citriodorum (F.M.Bailey) Domin
|range_map = Leptospermum liversidgeiDistA36.png
|range_map_caption = Occurrence data from AVH
}}
Leptospermum liversidgei, commonly known as the olive tea-tree,{{cite web |title=Leptospermum liversidgei |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Leptospermum~liversidgei |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |accessdate=14 April 2020}} is a species of compact shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has narrow egg-shaped, lemon-scented leaves, white or pink flowers and woody fruit that remain on the plant at maturity.
Description
Leptospermum liversidgei is a shrub that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|4|m}} and has thin, rough bark on the main branches and hairy young stems. The leaves are crowded, narrow egg-shaped and lemon-scented, mostly {{cvt|5-7|mm}} long and {{cvt|1-2|mm}} wide on a very short petiole. The flowers are white or pink, {{cvt|10-12|mm}} wide on a pedicel {{cvt|1-1.5|mm}} long, arranged singly on the ends of short, leafless side branches. The floral cup is dark coloured, about {{cvt|2.5|mm}} long, the sepals hemispherical to triangular, about {{cvt|2|mm}} long, the petals about {{cvt|5|mm}} long and the stamens {{cvt|1.5-2.5|mm}} long. Flowering mainly occurs in January and the fruit is a woody capsule {{cvt|7-10|mm}} wide and that is not shed when mature.{{cite journal |last1=Thompson |first1=Joy |title=A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) |journal=Telopea |date=1989 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=395–396}}
Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum liversidgei was first formally described in 1905 by Richard Thomas Baker and Henry George Smith in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales.{{cite web|title=Leptospermum liversidgei|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/525292 |publisher=APNI|accessdate=15 April 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Baker |first1=Richard T. |last2=Smith |first2=Henry G. |title=On an Undescribed Species of Leptospermum and it Essential Oil |journal=Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales |date=1905 |volume=39 |pages=124–130 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/130556#page/156/mode/1up |accessdate=15 April 2020}}
The specific epithet (liversidgei) honours Archibald Liversidge.{{cite web |title=Leptospermum liversidgei |url=http://anpsa.org.au/l-liv.html |publisher=Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) |accessdate=14 April 2020}}
Distribution and habitat
Use in horticulture
The size of this tea-tree makes it suitable for smaller gardens where it will tolerate poorly-drained soil and at least moderate frost. The leaves contain the essential oil citronellal and the plant is sometimes alleged to repel mosquitoes.
References
{{Reflist}}
- Harden, G.J., Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, {{ISBN|0-86840-164-1}}.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q722179}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Myrtales of Australia