Leptospermum purpurascens



Leptospermum purpurascens, commonly known as the purple-stemmed turkey bush, is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to far north Queensland, Australia. It has bark that is purple when new, elliptical to broadly lance-shaped leaves, relatively small white flowers arranged in pairs and small fruit that falls from the plants when the seeds are released.

Description
Leptospermum purpurascens is a shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of 6 m with thin, rough bark that is shed annually to reveal shining purple new bark. Younger stems are hairy at first and have a conspicuous flange near each leaf base. The leaves are elliptical to broadly lance-shaped, about 10 mm long, 2–4 mm wide and glossy on the upper surface, silky hairy on the lower surface. The flowers white, sometimes reddish, 3–5 mm wide and usually arranged in pairs. The floral cup is hairy, about 1.5 mm long and the sepals are about 0.7 mm long. The petals are about 1.5 mm long and the stamens are 0.5–1 mm long. Flowering occurs from June to July and the fruit is a capsule about 3 mm in diameter with the remains of the sepals attached, but that falls from the plant when the seeds are released.

Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum purpurascens was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea. The specific epithet (purpurascens) is a Latin word meaning "purplish" or "becoming purple", referring to the colour of the new bark.

Distribution and habitat
This tea-tree grows on rocky hillsides in far north Queensland.

Conservation status
This species is classified as "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Use in horticulture
This species prefers moist, well-drained soil but is frost tender.