''Backhousia leptopetala'' (syn. ''Choricarpia leptopetala'') is a common

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

n tree, growing from Stanwell Park (34° S) in the northern

Illawarra The Illawarra is a coastal Regions of New South Wales, region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast, New South Wales, South Coast region. It encompas ...

district to near

Buderim Buderim ( ) is a town in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It sits on a mountain which overlooks the southern Sunshine Coast communities. The name "Buderim" is usually believed to be derived from a local Gubbi Gubbi people, ...

(26° S) in south eastern

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

. Common names include brown myrtle, never-break, brush turpentine and rusty turpentine. The habitat of ''Backhousia leptopetala'' is

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

on the poorer sedimentary soils, near streams. It is also seen in moist eucalyptus areas on ridges. It may be identified by the greyish fawn colour under the leaf, and rusty hairy branchlets.

Description

''Backhousia leptopetala'' is a small tree, occasionally reaching 20 metres in height and 35 cm in trunk diameter. The tree has attractive displays of cream flowers and appealing foliage. The bark is a greyish brown, relatively soft, flaky or corky. The trunk is somewhat fluted and irregular. Larger trees are flanged at the base. The leaves are opposite, simple and entire, broad with a fine leaf tip, and around 5 to 13 cm long. The edges of the leaves are curled over and wavy, mid-green above, but a greyish fawny green underneath. The midrib is sunken on the top surface, but venation is prominent under the leaf. Near the wavy leaf edge is an intramarginal vein, which is not always easily seen. The underside of the leaf is covered in tiny hairs. Flowers are small, cream or white, densely together in globular heads, appearing in July to September. From a distance, its flowers resemble the

Callicoma ''Callicoma'' is a plant genus that contains just one species, ''Callicoma serratifolia'', a tall shrub or small tree native to Australia. ''Callicoma serratifolia'' is commonly known as black wattle. One explanation for the name is the similarit ...

. The fruit matures from August to November, being mostly a two-celled capsule, around 13 mm in diameter. Fresh seed is recommended for germination. Cuttings are not a successful method of regeneration.

Uses

An attractive ornamental tree. Image:Choricarpia leptopetala leaves.jpg, Scanned leaves Image:Choricarpia leptopetala - trunk.JPG, Trunk

References

;Citations ;Bibliography *
(other publication details, included in citation)

''Choricarpia leptopetala'' at NSW Flora Online
Retrieved 22 July 2009 {{Taxonbar, from=Q5105053 Myrtales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Ornamental trees leptopetala Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller