Leptospermum minutifolium



Leptospermum minutifolium, commonly known as the small-leaved tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has relatively small egg-shaped leaves, white flowers borne singly on the ends of branches and fruit that remains on the plant.

Description
Leptospermum minutifolium is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1-2 m. It has variable bark, sometimes thin and rough, otherwise smooth and flaking. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, usually 2-4 mm long but sometimes up to 7 mm long, and about 2 mm wide. The flowers are white, about 8 mm wide and arranged singly on the ends of short side shoots. The floral cup is glabrous, 2-3 mm long, the sepals 1.5-2 mm long, the petals 2.5-3 mm long and the stamens 3-3.5 mm long. Flowering mainly occurs from October to November and the fruit is a capsule 5-7 mm wide that remains on the plant at maturity.

Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum minutifolium was first formally described in 1946 by Cyril Tenison White in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland from specimens collected by "Mrs. M.S. Clemens" near Wallangarra.

Distribution and habitat
The small-leaved tea-tree grows in swamps and on rocky creek banks on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and the Granite Belt of south-east Queensland.