Common name: Coast Teatree
Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F.Muell. APNI*
Description: Shrub or small tree to > 4 m high, with close bark that sheds in strips, younger stems silky but glabrescent.
Leaves usually narrow-obovate, 15–30 mm long, 5–8 mm wide, flat, glabrescent; apex broad-obtuse, point small and often infolded; base tapering to a short rather flattened petiole.
Flowers usually 2 together, usually 15–20 mm diam., white. Hypanthium 3–4 mm long, usually glabrous. Sepals c. 2 mm long, almost glabrous. Petals mostly 5–8 mm long. Stamens 1.5–2.5 mm long. Ovary usually 6–11-locular.
Fruit usually 7–8 mm diam. with a slightly fleshy outer surface; valves somewhat exserted but forming a flat-topped fruit. Seeds usually winged.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in coastal heath and occasionally dry sclerophyll forest on sand, dunes and coastal cliffs, south from Nambucca Heads.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: *Qld Vic. Tas. *W.A. *S.A.
This species has become naturalised in coastal areas where it has often been used for dune stabilisation or planted after sand-mining. NSW records from north of Nambucca Heads and records from Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are considered to be based on introductions.
Text by J. Thompson & V. Logan. Modified by Peter Wilson, Oct. 2008.
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.