Lophostemon
{{Short description|Genus of trees}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Brush Box tree flowers.jpg
|image_caption = Lophostemon confertus
|display_parents = 2
|taxon = Lophostemon
|authority = Schott{{R|APNI|POWO}}
|type_species = Lophostemon arborescens
|type_species_authority = Schott{{R|WILSON|p=423}}
}}
Lophostemon ('lophos' - crest, 'stemon' - stamen) is a genus of 4 species of evergreen trees in the myrtle and clove family Myrtaceae. All four species are native to Australia, with one extending to New Guinea. The genus was first described in 1830 but not widely recognised until the 1980s. All four species were previously included in the related genus Tristania.{{R|WILSON}}
L. confertus, is a familiar tree to many people living along the east coast of Australia,{{according to whom|date=May 2025}} where it known colloquially as the brush box. Quite frequently, it has been planted as a street tree, a role it isn't suited for as it grows to 30 metres in height and quite often suffers lopping due to obstructing overhead power lines.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
Lophostemon species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Aenetus ligniveren.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
Species
{{As of|2025|4}}, Plants of the World Online accepts the following four species:{{R|POWO}}
- Lophostemon confertus (R.Br.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. – Queensland, New South Wales{{R|PLANTNETa}}
- Lophostemon grandiflorus (Benth.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. – Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia{{R|WAFB}}
- Lophostemon lactifluus (F.Muell.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. – Northern Territory, Western Australia{{R|FLORANT}}
- Lophostemon suaveolens (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. – Queensland, New South Wales, New Guinea{{R|PLANTNETb}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/96374 |title=Lophostemon |website=Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government |access-date=2 May 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:27609-1 |title=Lophostemon Schott |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=2 May 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5859 |title=Taxon Profile of Lophostemon grandiflorus (Benth.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh. |year=1998–2025 |website=Florabase—the Western Australian Flora |author=Western Australian Herbarium |publisher=Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Government of Western Australia |access-date=2 May 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=3892 |title=Lophostemon lactifluus (F.Muell.) Peter Wilson & J.T.Waterh. |year= |website=FloraNT, Northern Territory Herbarium |publisher=Northern Territory Government, Darwin. |access-date=2 May 2025}}
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2706665}}