Leptospermum scoparium x rotundifolium, Cygnus

Leptospermum scoparium x rotundifolium, Cygnus

Leptospermum scoparium

It is a prolific scrub-type tree and is often one of the first species to regenerate on cleared land. It is typically a shrub growing to 2–5 m (7–16 ft) tall, but can grow into a moderately sized tree, up to 15 m (49 ft) or so in height. It is evergreen, with dense branching and small leaves 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.24 in) broad, with a short spine tip. The flowers are white, occasionally pink, 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) (rarely up to 25 mm (0.98 in)) in diameter, with five petals. The wood is tough and hard.

This species is often confused with the related species kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) – the easiest way to tell the difference between the two species in the field is to feel their foliage – mānuka leaves are prickly, while kānuka leaves are soft.Alternatively, the seed capsules of mānuka are large (5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) in diameter and often remain on the plant year round, whereas the seed capsules of kānuka are much smaller (2.2–4.6 mm (0.087–0.18 in) in diameter and are not present for much of the year.

The Latin specific epithet scoparium means “like broom”, referring to Northern Hemisphere genera such as Genista and Cytisus which it superficially resembles, but to which it is only distantly related.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum_scoparium

Leptospermum rotundifolium

Leptospermum rotundifolium, commonly known as the round-leaved tea tree, is a member of the family Myrtaceae endemic to New South Wales and is now naturalised in a small area of Western Australia.

The slender erect shrub typically grows to a height of 3 metres (10 ft). It has close bark that eventually becomes gnarled. The small leaves have a neat and crisp appearance, they are openly spaced along the branches. The leaves are rounded with pointed tips, smooth and slightly shiny and give off an aromatic perfume when bruised. The leaves are typically 4 to 7 millimetres (0.16 to 0.28 in) in length with a similar width. The plant blooms in spring between October and November producing flowers on short lateral stems and on newer wood close to the tips. Round buds open to flat flowers which each have five rounded petals surrounding a large green eye that is surrounded by a row of upright stamens. The flowers can have a diameter of up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) and be pink-white to mauve-pink.

Native to an area along the east coast of New South Wales between Sydney and Nerriga where it grows in shrubby and heath habitats but also in sclerophyll forest on rocky escarpments.

It is also found on slopes in a small area in the South West region of Western Australia in the Shire of Manjimup where it grows in sandy clay soils over laterite.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospermum_rotundifolium