LeptospermumLeptospermum continentale (Prickly Tea-Tree) Leptospermum laevigatum (Australian Tea Tree)

Leptospermum is a genus of shrubs to small trees (part of the family Myrtaceae) that are commonly known as tea trees (although tea trees is also used to describe some species of Melaleuca). At the time of writing, there are 99 described Leptospermum species, plus some undescribed and unlisted species).

Prickly Tea-Tree (Leptospermum continentale), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Prickly Tea-Tree (Leptospermum continentale), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor

Most species of Leptospermum are endemic to Australia, although there are some that are native to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

A typical feature of the Leptospermum flowers are they have five petals. There is a single style in the centre of the flower and the fruit is a woody capsule.

Leptospermum rotundifolium (Lavender Queen), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Leptospermum rotundifolium (Lavender Queen), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW

The flowering Leptospermum is a popular plant genus / species for a variety of insects, not surprisingly popular with different native bee speces, such as the Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus.

Male Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus on Leptospermum © Marc Newman
Male Xylocopa (Lestis) aeratus on Leptospermum © Marc Newman

Beetles also enjoy the Leptospermum, such as in the genus Castiarina Jewel Beetles and genus Stigmodera.

Castiarina crenata on Leptospermum sp, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Castiarina crenata on Leptospermum sp, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Castiarina rufipennis, Black Mountain Nature Reserve ACT © Tony Eales
Castiarina rufipennis, Black Mountain Nature Reserve ACT © Tony Eales
Stigmodera macularia, Girraween QLD © Michael Jefferies
Stigmodera macularia on Leptospermum, Girraween QLD © Michael Jefferies

The Aphanestes (Flower Beetles) who are usually found on flowering Eucalypts, will also feed on Leptospermum, as seen in the following Aphanestes gymnopleura.

Aphanestes gymnopleura, Glen Aplin QLD © Marc Newman
Aphanestes gymnopleura on Leptospermum sp, Glen Aplin QLD © Marc Newman

Some insect genus / species may have a preferred plant species, but when oppertunity presents itself such as with flowering Leptospermum, they will take advantage of the food source. The genus Paropsis (commonly referred to as Tortoise Beetles) whose primary plant is the genera Eucalptus, are known to feed on the Leptospermum.

Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Charophyta
  • Class: Equisetopsida
  • Subclass: Magnoliidae
  • Superorder: Rosanae
  • Order: Myrtales
  • Family: Myrtaceae
  • Genus: Leptospermum
  • Species:
    • Leptospermum alpestre Blume
    • Leptospermum amboinense Blume
    • Leptospermum anfractum A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum arachnoides Gaertn.
    • Leptospermum argenteum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum barneyense A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum bennigsenianum Volkens
    • Leptospermum benwellii A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum blakelyi Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum brachyandrum (F.Muell.) Druce
    • Leptospermum brevipes F.Muell.
    • Leptospermum collinum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
    • Leptospermum confertum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum continentale Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum coriaceum (F.Muell.) Cheel
    • Leptospermum crassifolium Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum deanei Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum deuense Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum divaricatum Schauer
    • Leptospermum emarginatum H.L.Wendl. ex Link
    • Leptospermum epacridoideum Cheel
    • Leptospermum erubescens Schauer
    • Leptospermum exsertum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum fastigiatum S.Moore
    • Leptospermum flavescens
    • Leptospermum floribundum Jungh.
    • Leptospermum glabrescens N.A.Wakef.
    • Leptospermum glaucescens S.Schauer
    • Leptospermum grandiflorum Lodd., G.Lodd. & W.Lodd.
    • Leptospermum grandifolium Sm.
    • Leptospermum gregarium Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum incanum Turcz.
    • Leptospermum inelegans Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum javanicum Blume
    • Leptospermum jingera Lyne & Crisp
    • Leptospermum juniperinum Sm.
    • Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F.Muell.
    • Leptospermum lamellatum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum lanigerum (Sol. ex Aiton) Sm.
    • Leptospermum liversidgei R.T.Baker & H.G.Sm.
    • Leptospermum longifolium A.Cunn.
    • Leptospermum luehmannii F.M.Bailey
    • Leptospermum macgillivrayi Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum macrocarpum (Maiden & Betche) Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum madidum A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum maxwellii S.Moore
    • Leptospermum microcarpum Cheel
    • Leptospermum micromyrtus Miq.
    • Leptospermum minutifolium C.T.White
    • Leptospermum morrisonii Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum multicaule A.Cunn.
    • Leptospermum myrsinoides Schltdl.
    • Leptospermum myrtifolium Sieber ex DC.
    • Leptospermum namadgiense Lyne
    • Leptospermum neglectum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum nitens Turcz.
    • Leptospermum nitidum Hook.f.
    • Leptospermum novae-angliae Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum obovatum Sweet
    • Leptospermum oligandrum Turcz.
    • Leptospermum oreophilum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum pallidum A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum parvifolium Sm.
    • Leptospermum petersonii F.M.Bailey
    • Leptospermum petraeum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum pinifolium Labill.
    • Leptospermum polyanthum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb.
    • Leptospermum purpurascens Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum recurvum Hook.f.
    • Leptospermum riparium D.I.Morris
    • Leptospermum roei Benth.
    • Leptospermum rotundifolium (Maiden & Betche) F.A.Rodway
    • Leptospermum rupestre Hook.f.
    • Leptospermum rupicola Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum salicifolium Lam.
    • Leptospermum scoparium J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
    • Leptospermum sejunctum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum semibaccatum Cheel
    • Leptospermum sericatum Lindl.
    • Leptospermum sericeum Labill.
    • Leptospermum sp. Bandalup Hill (G.Cockerton 11001) WA Herbarium
    • Leptospermum sp. Latham (B.L.Rye 239088 & M.E.Trudgen) WA Herbarium
    • Leptospermum sp. Peak Charles/Norseman (K.R.Newbey 5243) WA Herbarium
    • Leptospermum speciosum Schauer
    • Leptospermum spectabile Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum sphaerocarpum Cheel
    • Leptospermum spinescens Endl.
    • Leptospermum squarrosum Gaertn.
    • Leptospermum subglabratum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum subtenue Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum thompsonii Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum trinerve Sm.
    • Leptospermum trinervium (Sm.) Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum turbinatum Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum variabile Joy Thomps.
    • Leptospermum venustum A.R.Bean
    • Leptospermum whitei Cheel
    • Leptospermum wooroonooran F.M.Bailey

Footnote & References

  1. Leptospermum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/8499083

LeptospermumLeptospermum continentale (Prickly Tea-Tree) Leptospermum laevigatum (Australian Tea Tree)

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