Leptospermum liversidgei

Leptospermum liversidgei, commonly known as the olive tea-tree,[2] 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.

Olive tea-tree
Leptospermum liversidgei in Maranoa Gardens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. liversidgei
Binomial name
Leptospermum liversidgei
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • Leptospermum flavescens var. citriodorum F.M.Bailey
  • Leptospermum polygalifolium var. citriodorum (F.M.Bailey) Domin

Description

Leptospermum liversidgei is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 4 m (13 ft) and has thin, rough bark on the main branches and hairy young stems. The leaves are crowded, narrow egg-shaped and lemon-scented, mostly 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide on a very short petiole. The flowers are white or pink, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) wide on a pedicel 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long, arranged singly on the ends of short, leafless side branches. The floral cup is dark coloured, about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long, the sepals hemispherical to triangular, about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, the petals about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and the stamens 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs in January and the fruit is a woody capsule 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) wide and that is not shed when mature.[2][3]

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.[4][5] The specific epithet (liversidgei) honours Archibald Liversidge.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Olive tea-tree occurs in coastal swamps between the Bundaberg region of Queensland and Tomago in New South Wales where it grows in heath.[2][3]

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.[6]

References
  1. "Leptospermum liversidgei". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. "Leptospermum liversidgei". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 395–396.
  4. "Leptospermum liversidgei". APNI. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. Baker, Richard T.; Smith, Henry G. (1905). "On an Undescribed Species of Leptospermum and it Essential Oil". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 39: 124–130. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. "Leptospermum liversidgei". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  • Harden, G.J., Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, ISBN 0-86840-164-1.
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