Smooth teatree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smooth teatree |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leptospermum
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| Species: |
glabrescens
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Leptospermum glabrescens, also known as the smooth teatree, is a special kind of shrub or small tree. It only grows in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. This plant has long, narrow leaves and pretty white flowers. Its fruits stay on the plant even when they are ripe.
Contents
What is the Smooth Teatree Like?
The smooth teatree is a shrub or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 1.5 to 6 meters (5 to 20 feet) tall. Its smaller branches have smooth bark. This bark peels off in long, stringy pieces.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the smooth teatree are long and thin. They can also be oval-shaped or narrow like an egg. Most leaves are about 5 to 13 millimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide. They are smooth and have a very short stem.
The flowers grow one by one on short side branches. Each flower is about 12 millimeters (half an inch) wide. When the flower bud is forming, it has broad, brownish leaves called bracts at its base. These usually fall off as the flower opens.
The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is about 3 millimeters long. It is covered in tiny hairs. The sepals are round and hairy, about 2 millimeters long. The petals are white and measure 3 to 5 millimeters long. The stamens, which hold the pollen, are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters long.
When Does it Flower?
Smooth teatrees bloom from December to January. After flowering, they produce a fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 5 to 7 millimeters wide. The interesting thing is that these fruits stay on the plant even after they are fully grown.
How Did it Get its Name?
The smooth teatree, Leptospermum glabrescens, was first officially described in 1955. This was done by a scientist named Norman Arthur Wakefield. He wrote about it in a science magazine called The Victorian Naturalist.
The second part of its scientific name, glabrescens, comes from a Latin word. It means "almost smooth" or "becoming smooth with age." This name describes how the plant's parts, like its leaves, are smooth.
Where Does the Smooth Teatree Grow?
The smooth teatree grows in wet, swampy areas. You can also find it along the edges of rivers and streams. It lives in a region called East Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.
It grows from near Cape Conran all the way to Mallacoota. There is also a separate group of these plants near Buchan. This means they are found in different places, not just one continuous area.
