Leptospermum

Leptospermum scoparium, flower

Leptospermum is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae ). The botanical name is derived from the Greek words leptos for delicate or thin and cum for seed starting.

Dissemination

The species of the genus Leptospermum are widely used in Australia, the largest biodiversity, there is here in the south of the continent. The distribution of two species extends to Malaysia, Leptospermum scoparium type is native to New Zealand.

Description

Leptospermum are evergreen shrubs or small trees, the plant height 1-8 m or rarely reach 15 to 20 m. All the plants contain essential oils. The to -earth and spirally arranged leaves on branch leaves are simple, can be small to medium in size and have a smooth margin. Stipules are present. The flowers are borne singly or in few zymösen inflorescences. The radial symmetry, five petals are hermaphrodite, or functionally male. The five petals are white, pink or red. Usually very many (5 to 55) fertile stamens are present. Two to twelve carpels are a inferior ovary fused with a stylus and a scar. Pollination is by insects ( entomophily ) or birds ( Ornithophilie ). They make dry fruit capsules with some or many, winged or wingless, light seeds.

Leptospermum species are short-day plants, the critical day length is dependent on the temperature. Under long-day occurs at about 20 ° C to a strong growth in length.

Use

Some species and their varieties are ornamentals.

For some species introduced the first Australian settlers forth a tea substitute.

From Südseemyrte or Manukastrauch ( Leptospermum scoparium ) the Manuka is obtained. This essential oil is now used personal care products. From the leaves and young twigs of it is recovered by gentle steam distillation. It is yellowish - clear aromatic fragrant and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It makes the skin more resistant, promotes wound healing and scarring, helps with herpes and fungal infections and to be better tolerated than the better-known Australian tea tree oil. The natives of New Zealand, the Māori, treated with plant parts burns, inflammations, insect bites and wounds of their warriors.

System

There are about 80-86 Leptospermum species:

  • Leptospermum anfractum A.R. Bean
  • Leptospermum arachnoides Gaertn.
  • Leptospermum confertum Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum coriaceum ( F.Muell. Ex Miq. ) Cheel
  • Leptospermum deuense Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum emarginatum H.L.Wendl. ex Link
  • Leptospermum epacridoideum Cheel
  • Leptospermum erubescens shower
  • Leptospermum exsertum Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum fastigiatum S.Moore
  • Leptospermum flavescens Sm
  • Leptospermum glabrescens Wakef.
  • Leptospermum grandiflorum Sm
  • Leptospermum incanum Turcz.
  • Leptospermum inelegans Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum javanicum flower
  • Leptospermum juniperinum Sm
  • Leptospermum laevigatum ( Gaertn. ) F.Muell.
  • Leptospermum lanigerum ( Sol. ex Aiton ) Sm
  • Leptospermum liversidgei R.T.Baker & H. G.Sm.
  • Leptospermum luehmannii F.M.Bailey
  • Leptospermum macgillivrayi Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum macrocarpum ( Maiden & Betche ) Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum madidum A.R.Bean
  • Leptospermum maxwellii S.Moore
  • Leptospermum microcarpum Cheel
  • Leptospermum minutifolium C.T.White
  • Leptospermum multicaule A. Cunn.
  • Leptospermum myrsinoides Schltdl.
  • Leptospermum myrtifolium Sieber ex DC.
  • Leptospermum nitens Turcz.
  • Leptospermum nitidum Hook. f
  • Leptospermum obovatum Sweet
  • Leptospermum oligandrum Turcz.
  • Leptospermum parviflorum Valeton
  • Leptospermum parvifolium Sm
  • Leptospermum petersonii F.M.Bailey
  • Leptospermum polygalifolium ( Maiden & Betche ) FARodway ex Cheel
  • Leptospermum purpurascens Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum recurvum Hook. f
  • Leptospermum roei Benth.
  • Leptospermum rotundifolium ( Maiden & Betche ) FARodway
  • Leptospermum rupestre Hook. f
  • Südseemyrte or Neuseelandmyrte ( Leptospermum scoparium JR & G.Forst. )
  • Leptospermum semibaccatum Cheel
  • Leptospermum sericeum Labill.
  • Leptospermum sphaerocarpum Cheel
  • Leptospermum spinescens Endl.
  • Leptospermum squarrosum Gaertn.
  • Leptospermum subtenue Joy Thomps
  • Leptospermum trinervium ( Sm ) Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum trinervium ( Sm ) Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum turbinatum Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum variabile Joy Thomps.
  • Leptospermum Wooroonooran F. M. Bailey

Synonyms for Leptospermum are Fabricia Gaertn. , Leptospermopsis S.Moore, Macklottia Korth ..

More images

Leptospermum laevigatum:

Fruit capsule

Swell

  • Description in the Flora of Western Australia. (English )
  • Description in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. (English )
Johann Reinhold Forster Georg Forster Ovary (botany) Agricultural Research Service
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