Leptospermum morrisonii

Leptospermum morrisonii is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has strongly aromatic, elliptical to lance-shaped or curved leaves, white or greenish white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant. It occurs in the south-east of the state.

Description
Leptospermum morrisonii is a shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of 2-5 m or higher. The bark on older stems is corrugated, the younger stems softly-hairy with a distinct flange. The leaves are strongly aromatic, elliptical to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and often slightly curved, 15-35 mm long and 2-8 mm wide with a negligible petiole. The flowers are borne singly on the ends of branchlets and are white or greenish creamy-white, usually 12-15 mm wide. There are broad, reddish brown bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower bud but most are shed before the flower opens. The floral cup is glabrous, about 4 mm deep and the sepals are thin, pale, and 2.5-3.5 mm long. The petals are 5-7 mm long and the stamens 3.5-4.5 mm long. Flowering mainly occurs from late December to January and the fruit is a capsule usually 6-10 mm in diameter.

Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum morrisonii was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea, based on plant material collected by Hugo Salasoo, near Mount Dhruwalgha, south-east of Robertson. The specific epithet (morrisonii) honours David Morrison for his genecological work.

Distribution and habitat
This tea-tree grows in woodland and shrubland in rocky paces and on rocky creek banks from the southern Blue Mountains to the Corang River further south.