Myrtaceae

Leptospermum laevigatum

Common Names: Coastal tea-tree

Plant Form: Shrub or small tree. Size: Up to 6 m tall. Stem: Covered in thin brown bark which is shed in strips. Leaves: Narrow elongated oval-shaped, leathery, with silky hairs when young. Flowers: White with 5 petals in circular arrangement around a base. 15-20 mm diameter. Fruit and Seeds: Flat-topped capsules which become woody with age. With 6-11 small compartments containing several seeds. Habitat: Dunes, rocky headlands, heathlands, dry forests. Distinguishing Features: 6-11 compartments in fruit differs from other native Leptospermum species, which typically have fewer. Impacts: Invades new areas and outcompetes and replaces existent vegetation