Leptospermum riparium, commonly known as riverine tea-tree,[2] is a species of straggling shrub that is endemic to Tasmania. It has flaky bark, crowded, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant when mature. It grows on river banks in rainforest.
| Riverine tea-tree | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Leptospermum |
| Species: | L. riparium
|
| Binomial name | |
| Leptospermum riparium | |
Description
editLeptospermum riparium is a straggly shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) or more and has flaky bark. The leaves are mostly glabrous, lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, usually 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide, the base tapering to a thin petiole. The flowers are white, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide and arranged on the ends of leafy side branches. There are reddish-brown bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower buds but that usually fall off before the flower opens. The floral cup is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long with triangular sepals about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. The petals are 8 or 9 mm (0.31 or 0.35 in) long and the stamens about 4 m (13 ft) long. Flowering mainly occurs in January and the fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide with the remains of the sepals attached and that remains on the plant at maturity.[3][4][5]
Taxonomy and naming
editLeptospermum riparium was first formally described in 1974 by Tasmanian botanist Dennis Ivor Morris in Records of the Queen Victoria Museum, based on specimens he collected near the bridge over the Huon River in the Tahune Forest Park.[6][7][8] The specific epithet (riparium) is from a Latin word meaning "inhabiting river banks".[9]
Distribution and habitat
editThe riverine tea-tree grows along major rivers in rainforest of southern and eastern Tasmania.[3][5]
References
edit- ^ "Leptospermum riparium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Leptospermum riparium". The Understorey Network. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ a b Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 434–435. doi:10.7751/telopea19894902.
- ^ Williams, Simon (2018). A Beekeper's Guide to Australian Leptospermum Trees and Honey (PDF). Agrifutures. pp. 129–130. ISBN 9781925476101. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Leptospermum riparium". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Leptospermum riparium". APNI. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ Morris, Dennis (1974). "Recent additionsto the Tasmanian flora and some notes on nomenclature". Records of the Queen Victoria Museum Launceston. 50: 2–3. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "Morris, Dennis Ivor (1924 - 2005)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 484.