Leptospermum blakelyi



Leptospermum blakelyi is a species of shrub that is endemic to rocky clifftops near Lithgow in New South Wales. It has densely silky young stems, egg-shaped to elliptical leaves and white or pink flowers.

Description
Leptospermum blakelyi is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 1 m and has closely adhering flakes of bark that is shed in fibrous strips. Young stems are densely hairy at first. The leaves are broadly elliptical to egg-shaped, 4-8 mm long and 2-5 mm wide on a short petiole. The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to four, usually in leaf axils and are about 7 mm in diameter on a pedicel 5 mm or more long. The floral cup is usually densely hairy, about 2 mm long. The sepals are triangular, 1-1.5 mm long and remain attached as the fruit develops. The petals are 2-2.5 mm long and white or pink and the stamens are about 1 mm long. Flowering occurs from November to December and the fruit is a woody capsule 2-3.5 mm in diameter on a pedicel 6-8 mm long.

Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum blakelyi was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea. The specific epithet (blakelyi) honours William Blakely who wrote an unpublished description of this species.

Distribution and habitat
This tea-tree grows on rocky clifftops in heath near Lithgow.