| Coast teatree | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Gaudium |
| Species: | G. laevigatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Gaudium laevigatum | |
 | |
| Occurrence data fromAVH, including introductions in other states | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Gaudium laevigatum, commonly known as thecoast tea tree,[3] is a species of shrub or small tree that isendemic to south-eastern Australia, but has been widely introduced in other places where it is often considered to be a weed. It has thin, rough bark on the older stems, narrow egg-shaped leaves, relatively large white flowers and flat topped fruit that is shed shortly after reaching maturity.
Gaudium laevigatum is a bushy shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 1.5–6 m (4 ft 11 in – 19 ft 8 in) and has thin, rough bark on the older stems. The young stems are covered with silky hairs at first and have a groove near the base of thepetiole. The leaves are greyish green, narrow egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide on a short petiole. The flowers are borne on short side shoots, usually in pairs of different ages, and are usually 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide. There are many reddish brownbracts around the flower buds but most fall off as the flower opens. Thefloral cup is mostlyglabrous, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long with the upper part expanded. Thesepals are triangular, about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, thepetals white, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long and thestamens 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from August to October and the fruit is acapsule 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide with the remains of the sepals initially attached. The fruit mostly fall from the plant shortly after reaching maturity.[3][4][5][6]
This species was first formally described in 1788 byJoseph Gaertner who gave it the nameFabricia laevigata and published the description in his bookDe Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum.[7] In 1858,Ferdinand von Mueller assigned it to theLeptospermum genus asL. laevigatum in theParliamentary Papers- Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly.[8]
In 2023,Peter Gordon Wilson transferred Gaertner'sFabricia laevigata toGaudium asG. laevigatum in the journalTaxon.[2][9] Thespecific epithet (laevigatum) is from a Latin word meaning "made smooth" or "having a polished surface".[10]
Gaudium laevigatum is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania where it grows in heath, sometimes forest and on coastal dunes and cliffs south fromNambucca Heads in New South Wales toAnglesea in Victoria and northern Tasmania. It has also been introduced to Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and countries overseas including southern Africa, New Zealand, Hawaii and theCentral Coast of California.[3][4][11][12][13]
Coast teatree is salt-resistant, veryhardy and is commonly used in amenities plantings and coastal plantings. It has also been planted inWestern Australia where it has become a weed.[14]
This species has been planted along the Central Coast of California in the United States[15] and on theCape Flats[16] inCape Town,South Africa, to stabilizesand. It is known in the United States as theAustralian tea tree[17] and in South Africa as theAustralian myrtle.[16] The seeds can be dispersed by wind and water.[11]
It has now become naturalised inNew Zealand, southernAfrica,California andHawaii.[11]
The larvae ofHolocola thalassinana feed onLeptospermum laevigatum.[18]
This species is planted widely (asLeptospermum laevigatum) as a garden ornamental or display tree. It is useful as awindbreak or hedging plant and for the rapid stabilisation of sandy soils, and in rehabilitation areas where construction or mining has taken place.[11] It has begun to be cultivated for essential oil production, marketed as Coastal tree tree oil, and has shown some beneficial anti-microbial properties.[19]
Gaudium laevigatum is not listed on the advisory list of rare or threatened plants in Victoria (2014).[20]
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