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leptospermum

{{Short description|Genus of shrubs}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Leptospermum squarrosum.jpg

|image_caption = Leptospermum squarrosum

|taxon = Leptospermum

|authority = J.R.Forster & G.Forster{{cite web |title=Leptospermum |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/search?product=APC&tree.id=51209179&name=Leptospermum&inc._scientific=&inc.scientific=on&inc._cultivar=&max=1000&display=apc&search=true|publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=19 March 2020}}

|synonyms_ref =

|synonyms = *Glaphyria Jack

}}

Leptospermum {{IPAc-en|ˌ|l|ɛ|p|t|ə|ˈ|s|p|ɜːr|m|əm|,_|-|t|oʊ|-}}{{refn|{{Dictionary.com|access-date=2016-01-21|Leptospermum}}}}Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607 is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of Melaleuca. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the south of the continent, but some are native to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Leptospermums all have five conspicuous petals and five groups of stamens which alternate with the petals. There is a single style in the centre of the flower and the fruit is a woody capsule.

The first formal description of a leptospermum was published in 1776 by the German botanists Johann Reinhold Forster and his son Johann Georg Adam Forster, but an unambiguous definition of individual species in the genus was not achieved until 1979. Leptospermums grow in a wide range of habitats but are most commonly found in moist, low-nutrient soils. They have important uses in horticulture, in the production of honey and in floristry.

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.{{cite book|last1=Wrigley|first1=John W.|last2=Fagg|first2=Murray|title=Bottlebrushes, paperbarks & tea trees, and all other plants in the Leptospermum alliance|date=1993|publisher=Angus & Robertson|location=Pymble, N.S.W.|isbn=978-0207168673|edition=1181–183}}{{cite web|title=Genus Leptospermum|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Leptospermum|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet|access-date=21 February 2017}}{{cite web|title=Leptospermum and its Relatives - Background|url=http://anpsa.org.au/leptos1.html|publisher=Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)|access-date=21 February 2017}}

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, Characteres Generum Plantarum.{{cite web|title=Leptospermum|url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/493571|publisher=APNI|access-date=21 February 2017}}{{cite book|last1=Forster|first1=Johann Reinhold|last2=Forster|first2=Johann Georg Adam|title=Characteres Generum Plantarum|date=1776|location=London|page=71|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/23365#page/87/mode/1up|access-date=21 February 2017|publisher=Prostant apud B. White, T. Cadell, & P. Elmsly}} In 1876, George Bentham described twenty species, but noted the difficulty of discriminating between species. ("The species are very difficult to discriminate.") Of the species he named, only ten remain as valid.{{cite journal|last1=Bentham|first1=George|title=Orders XLVIII. Myrtaceae- LXII. Compositae|journal=Flora Australiensis|date=1867|volume=3|pages=100–111|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/41807#page/108/mode/1up|access-date=21 February 2017}}

In 1979, Barbara Briggs and Laurie Johnson published a classification of the family Myrtaceae in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. Although there have been revisions to their groupings, their paper allowed a systematic examination of species in the genus Leptospermum.{{cite journal|last1=Briggs|first1=Barbara Gillian|title=Evolution in the Myrtaceae - Evidence from inflorescence structure|journal=Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales|date=1979|volume=102|issue=4|pages=157–256|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34874217#page/187/mode/1up|access-date=21 February 2017}} In 1989, Joy Thompson published a complete revision of the genus.{{cite journal|last1=Thompson|first1=Joy|date=1989|title=A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)|journal=Telopea|volume=3|issue=3|pages=301–449|doi=10.7751/telopea19894902|doi-access=free}} In 2000, O'Brien et al. published yet another revision, using matK-based evidence to suggest that Leptospermum is polyphyletic, and should be split into persistent, Western non-persistent, and Eastern non-persistent fruiting plants, with Leptospermum spinescens as an outlier.{{Cite journal|last1=O'Brien|first1=Marcelle M.|last2=Quinn|first2=Christopher J.|last3=Wilson|first3=Peter G.|date=2000|title=Molecular systematics of the Leptospermum suballiance (Myrtaceae)|journal=Australian Journal of Botany|volume=48|issue=5|pages=621|doi=10.1071/bt99021|issn=0067-1924}} However, neither phylogeny has been universally accepted.{{Cite journal|last1=Thornhill|first1=Andrew H.|last2=Ho|first2=Simon Y.W.|last3=Külheim|first3=Carsten|last4=Crisp|first4=Michael D.|date=December 2015|title=Interpreting the modern distribution of Myrtaceae using a dated molecular phylogeny|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=93|pages=29–43|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2015.07.007|pmid=26211451|bibcode=2015MolPE..93...29T |issn=1055-7903|hdl=1885/76782|hdl-access=free}} Current estimates recognize about ninety species of Leptospermum.

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.{{cite web|title=Leptospermum - family Myrtaceae Commonly known as "teatrees"|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/leptospermum/|publisher=Australian National Botanic Garden|access-date=21 February 2017}} The genus name (Leptospermum) means "slender-seeded".{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=92 |edition=3rd}}

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. Leptospermum laevigatum is usually found growing on beach sand and L. riparium growing in Tasmanian rainforest on the edges of rivers. Leptospermum amboinense extends from Queensland to Southeast Asia and three species, L. javanicum, L. parviflorum and L. recurvum are endemic to southeast Asia. L. recurvum is only found on Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. Leptospermum scoparium is one of the most widespread in the genus and occurs in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand, where it is one of the most widespread and important native shrub species.{{cite web|title=Leptospermum scoparium|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Leptospermum~scoparium|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney; plantnet|access-date=21 February 2017}}{{cite journal|last1=Stephens|first1=Jonathan M.C.|last2=Molan|first2=Peter C.|last3=Clarkson|first3=Bruce D.|title=A review of Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae) in New Zealand|journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany|date=January 2005|volume=43|issue=2|pages=431–449|doi=10.1080/0028825X.2005.9512966|s2cid=53515334 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2005NZJB...43..431S }}

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 {{convert|-8|C|F}} to {{convert|-10|C|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 nectar from the flowers is harvested by bees, yielding Leptospermum honey, which is marketed as Manuka honey.{{cite web |title=Growing and harvesting Mānuka honey |url=https://www.mpi.govt.nz/growing-and-harvesting/honey-and-bees/manuka-honey/ |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries |access-date=5 December 2019}} Honey produced from Australian Leptospermum polygalifolium is also known as jelly bush or the lemon-scented tea tree.[http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/native-honey-a-sweet-antibacterial.htm/ Native honey a sweet antibacterial]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306093531/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/native-honey-a-sweet-antibacterial.htm |date=2011-03-06 }}, Australian Geographic, March 3, 2011.

Species

The following is a list of species accepted by Plants of the World Online as at August 2024:{{cite web |title=Leptospermum |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331709-2#children |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=15 August 2024}}

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References

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Category:Myrtaceae genera

Category:Taxa named by Georg Forster

Category:Taxa named by Johann Reinhold Forster