Leptospermum sericeum

Leptospermum sericeum is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) and has thin, firm bark. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, mostly 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide, tapering to a short, broad petiole. The leaves are covered with a layer of silvery grey hairs, at least at first, sometimes becoming glabrous later. The flowers are pink, 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) wide and are arranged singly or in pairs on short side shoots. The flower buds have reddish brown bracts and bracteoles at the base but that fall off well before the flower opens. The floral cup is 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long on a short pedicel and is densely covered with soft hairs. The sepals are 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long and are not differentiated from the floral cup. The petals are 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) long and the stamens 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from August to September and the fruit is a capsule about 7 mm (0.28 in) long on a pedicel usually 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. The remnants of the sepals remain attached to the fruit, but the fruit falls from the plant when the seeds mature.[2][3]

Leptospermum sericeum was first described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière who published the description in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[4] Labillardière mistakenly gave the type location as "Capite van Diemen" (Tasmania). George Bentham considered it a synonym of Kunzea sericea Turcz. in Flora Australiensis,[5] as did Joy Thompson in her 1990 paper in the journal Telopea.[3] The Australian Plant Census considers that Charles Gardner was correct in listing Kunzea sericea and L. sericea as separate species, the former occurring more than 160 km (99 mi) from the coast and L. sericea as being found on the islands of the Recherche Archipelago.[1][6] (Kunzea sericea is now considered to be a synonym of Kunzea pulchella.)[7]

Silver teatree grows in shallow soil in the crevices of windswept granite outcrops near Esperance, including on nearby islands.[2][3]

This leptospermum is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]