Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F.Muell., Myrtaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 11 (Go to the risk assessment).

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Australian myrtle, Australian tea tree, coast teatree, coastal teatree

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Large shrubs or small trees 5-6 m tall, bark shredding in long flakes.  Leaves narrowly oblanceolate to oblanceolate, 16-25 mm long, 4-8 mm wide, sparsely silky pubescent, glabrate with age, glandular-dotted, apex mucronate.  Sepals deltate, ca. 1-1.5 mm long, silky pubescent at least in bud, apex obtuse; petals white, ca. 6.5 mm long.  Capsules 8-10-valved, ca. 6 mm in diameter, scarcely exserted from hypanthium"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 963).

Habitat/ecology:  "Heath- and scrubland, grassland, coastal dunes.  A native of coastal heath communities, this shrub is tolerant of salt spray and invades coastal vegetation.  It can form extensive and dense thickets that displace the native vegetation.  The masses of fine roots in the top soil allow an efficient exploitation of soil moisture and competition with native plants"  (Weber, 2003; p. 233).

Propagation:  Seed.  "Fruits remain on the tree until fire or other damage kills it, leading to mass release of seeds.  These are dispersed by wind and water"  (Weber, 2003; p. 233).

Native range:  "Southeastern Australia and Tasmania"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 963).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 963)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 5) Voucher cited: R. Hobdy 2403 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 5) Voucher cited: Mrs. Crowe s.n. (BISH 60010)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2002) (p. 13) Voucher cited: C. Imada 2000-5 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	native	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "This species has become naturalised in coastal areas where it has often been used for dune stabilisation or planted after sand-mining."
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia. "Records from Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are considered to be based on introductions."
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 865) "Coastal places, scrub near gardens or parks".
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  Cut trees and burn the area about 4 years later to kill emerging seedlings (Weber, 2003; p. 233).