Leptospermum speciosum facts for kids
Leptospermum speciosum is a type of shrub that grows only in eastern Australia. It has light-colored bark that peels off in strips. Its leaves are shaped like spears or ovals. This plant has pretty white flowers that grow alone or in small groups. It also produces small, woody fruits that drop off when they are ready.
Quick facts for kids Leptospermum speciosum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leptospermum
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| Species: |
speciosum
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What is Leptospermum speciosum?
Leptospermum speciosum is a shrub. It usually grows to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even become a small tree, reaching 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) high.
This plant has pale bark that peels off in strips. Its younger stems are covered with soft, fine hairs. The leaves are shaped like a spear (lance-shaped) or an oval (elliptical). They are usually 20 to 30 millimeters (about 1 inch) long and 5 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The base of the leaf almost wraps around the stem.
The flowers of Leptospermum speciosum are white. They grow either by themselves or in small groups of three. Each flower is about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The part of the flower that holds the petals and other parts, called the floral cup, is covered with soft hairs. It is about 3 millimeters long and narrows down to a very short stem, called a pedicel.
The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud, are egg-shaped or triangular. They are about 1.5 millimeters long. The petals, the colorful parts of the flower, are 3 to 4 millimeters long. The stamens, which produce pollen, are about 1.5 millimeters long. This plant mainly flowers from August to September. After flowering, it produces a woody fruit called a capsule. This capsule is about 5 millimeters wide and still has the remains of the sepals attached. The fruit falls off when it is fully grown.
How Leptospermum speciosum Got its Name
The plant Leptospermum speciosum was officially described in 1843. This description was made by a scientist named Johannes Conrad Schauer. He wrote about it in a book by Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers called Repertorium Botanices Systematicae. This is how the plant got its scientific name.
Where it Grows
Leptospermum speciosum grows in areas called heathlands. These are open, shrubby areas found in coastal swamps. You can find this plant in eastern Australia. It grows from Fraser Island in Queensland down to the area near the Clarence River in New South Wales.
