Leptospermum pallidum facts for kids

Leptospermum pallidum is a special kind of shrub, also known as a tea-tree. It only grows in Queensland, Australia. This plant has rough bark, long, narrow leaves, and pretty white flowers. Its fruit stays on the plant even after it's ripe.

What Does the Pale Tea-Tree Look Like?

The Leptospermum pallidum is a spreading shrub. It usually grows up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Its branches have thin, firm, and rough bark. The younger twigs are smooth.

Its leaves are long and narrow, shaped like a spear. They are a pale yellowish-green color on both sides. These leaves are about 3.5 to 5.2 centimeters long and 0.5 to 0.9 centimeters wide. They either attach directly to the stem or have a very short stalk.

The flowers are white and grow in groups of two or three. You can find them on side shoots or where a leaf meets the stem. Each flower is about 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide. The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is smooth. The sepals (small leaf-like parts under the petals) are also smooth and have clear oil dots.

The petals are mostly round and about 0.3 to 0.5 centimeters long. Inside the flower, there are many stamens (the parts that make pollen), usually thirty to forty of them. They are shorter than the petals. This tea-tree flowers from March to June. After flowering, it produces a fruit that is a dry capsule. This capsule is about 0.45 to 0.5 centimeters long and 0.5 to 0.6 centimeters wide. The fruit stays on the plant even after it's ripe.

How the Pale Tea-Tree Got Its Name

The Leptospermum pallidum was officially described in 1992. This was done by a botanist named Anthony Bean. He wrote about it in a science journal called Austrobaileya.

The second part of its scientific name, pallidum, comes from a Latin word. It means "pale." This name was chosen because of the pale color of the plant's leaves.

Where Does This Tea-Tree Live?

This special tea-tree grows in rocky areas. You can find it on slopes and cliff edges. Most of these plants are found near a place called Greenvale. Some also grow at Porcupine Gorge. Both of these locations are in Queensland, Australia.

Is the Pale Tea-Tree in Danger?

The Leptospermum pallidum is currently listed as "near threatened." This means it's not in immediate danger of disappearing, but it could become so if its habitat isn't protected. The Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act 1992 helps to protect species like this one.