Australian Native Plants

  Leptospermum obovatum (River Tea-tree)


Leptospermum obovatum photo
Leptospermum obovatum fruit and foliage

Photograph by Dinkum. License: Public Domain.    (view image details)

Leptospermum obovatum photo
Leptospermum obovatum leaves

Photograph by Dinkum. License: Public Domain.    (view image details)




RIVER TEA-TREE FACTS

distribution map showing range of Leptospermum obovatum in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
River Tea-tree

Description
The River Tea-tree is a shrub growing to 3 m tall. The leaves are obovate and grow to 0.5 cm to 2 cm long and up to 2 mm to 8 mm wide. Flowers are produced in late spring and summer from November to January. The flowers are white with 5 petals and about 1 cm in diameter. The fruit capsules are about 7 mm in diameter.

Habitat
swampy areas, along rivers and creeks

Distribution
The River Tea-tree is found in Victoria and central east and south east parts New South Wales, and Australian Capital Territory,

Growth Characteristics
Height: 3m
Spread: 1.5m



Classification
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Leptospermum
Species:obovatum
Common Name:River Tea-tree


Relatives in same Genus
  Leptospermum brachyandrum
  Leptospermum continentale
  Leptospermum coriaceum
  Leptospermum erubescens
  Leptospermum grandiflorum
  Leptospermum laevigatum
  Leptospermum lanigerum
  Leptospermum liversidgei
  Leptospermum macrocarpum
  Leptospermum morrisonii
  Leptospermum myrsinoides
  Leptospermum nitidum
  Leptospermum petersonii
  Leptospermum polygalifolium
  Leptospermum rotundifolium
  Leptospermum rupestre
  Leptospermum scoparium
  Leptospermum spectabile
  Leptospermum squarrosum
  Leptospermum turbinatum