''Leptospermum spectabile'' is a species of shrub that is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to a small area of New South Wales. It has thin bark, narrow elliptic leaves, dark red flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and relatively large fruit.

Description

''Leptospermum spectabile'' is a shrub that typically grows to a height of and has thin, firm bark and hairy younger stems. The leaves are narrow elliptical, long and wide, with a stiff point and tapering to a very short petiole. The flowers are dark red, about in diameter and are borne singly on short side shoots. The

floral cup In angiosperms, a hypanthium or floral cup is a structure where basal portions of the calyx, the corolla, and the stamens form a cup-shaped tube. It is sometimes called a floral tube, a term that is also used for corolla tube and calyx tube. It of ...

is densely covered with silky hairs and is about long, tapering to a very short

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...

s are pale, egg-shaped to oblong, about long, the

petal Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...

s long and the stamens long. Flowering mainly occurs from October to November and the fruit is a capsule in diameter with the remains of the sepals attached. The fruit remains on the plant at maturity.

Taxonomy

''Leptospermum spectabile'' was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal '' Telopea'', based on plant material collected in the

Colo River The Colo River, a perennial stream that is part of the Hawkesbury- Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. Course The Colo River rises on the Great Dividing Range, northeast of Newnes, formed by ...

gorge to the north-west of Windsor.

Distribution and habitat

This teatree is only known from the Colo River, where it grows near sandstone rocks on the river bank.

Use in horticulture

This species is relatively easy to grow and its red flowers make this a desirable garden feature. It grows well in most soil types but grows best in a sunny, well-drained position and is frost tolerant to . It is readily propagated from both seed and cuttings.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1529721 spectabile Myrtales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Plants described in 1989 Taxa named by Joy Thompson