Common name: Myrtle Tea-tree, Grey Tea-tree
Leptospermum myrtifolium Sieber ex DC. APNI*
Description: Shrub 1–3 m high, bark close, ultimately flaking in layers, younger stems pubescent.
Leaves broad-obovate to oblanceolate or elliptic, usually 5–10 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, thick glands prominent, silky hairs giving a grey-green appearance; apex acute to broadly rounded, point minute and blunt, tip recurved and infolded; base tapering to a thick petiole < 1 mm long.
Flowers solitary or occasionally 2 together, 7–11 mm diam., white. Hypanthium glands obvious, tapering base 0.5–1 mm long, 3–4 mm long, silky. Sepals c. 1.5 mm long, pubescent. Petals 3.5–5 mm long. Stamens c. 2 mm long. Ovary 5-locular.
Fruit usually 5–6 mm long; surface lifting, later gnarled, valves barely spreading beyond the rim.
Flowering: December–February
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in woodland and on the margins of southern high-altitude swamps, occasionally on rocky creek banks; south from Orange.
NSW subdivisions: CT, ST, ?CWS, ?SWS
Other Australian states: Vic.
Text by J. Thompson & V. Logan Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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