Lophostemon confertus

Lophostemon confertus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Lophostemon
Species: L. confertus
Binomial name
Lophostemon confertus
(R.Br.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.
Synonyms[1]
  • Lophostemon arborescens Schott
  • Melaleuca conferta (R.Br.) Steud.
  • Tristania conferta R.Br.
  • Tristania conferta Griff. Misapplied
  • Tristania depressa A.Cunn.
  • Tristania griffithii Kurz
  • Tristania macrophylla A.Cunn.
  • Tristania subverticillata H.Wendl.

Lophostemon confertus (syn. Tristania conferta), is an evergreen tree native to Australia, though it is cultivated in the United States and elsewhere. Common names include brush box, Queensland box, Brisbane box, pink box, box scrub, and vinegartree.[2] Its natural range in Australia is north-east New South Wales and coastal Queensland but it is commonly used as a street tree in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and other cities in eastern Australia.[3]

Description

In the wild its habitat ranges from moist open forest and rainforest ecotones, where it might reach heights of 40 metres or more, to coastal headlands where it acquires a stunted, wind-sheared habit. Dome-like in shape, it has a denser foliage with dark green, leathery leaves and hence provides more shade than eucalyptus trees. Moreover, it is considered safer than eucalypts because it rarely sheds limbs.

Habitat

It is considered useful as a street tree, due to its disease and pest resilience, its high tolerance for smog, drought and poor drainage, and the fact that it needs only moderate-to-light upkeep.[4] It often requires lopping to accommodate overhead power lines, but survives pruning quite well.[5] In form it is used as a replacement for the weedy Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) while having a low potential for being weedy itself. The tree is one of the hardiest and most successful street trees within wider Sydney and elsewhere.

Etymology

The species was formally described in 1812 by Scottish botanist Robert Brown, based on plant material collected from the Hunter River region in New South Wales. Brown named the species Tristania confertia. The species was transferred to the genus Lophostemon in 1982.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
  2. ↑ Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – 'Lophostemon confertus'". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Edition 6.1, online version [RFK 6.1]. Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Atlas of Living Australia".
  4. ↑ Friends of the Urban Forest
    http://www.fuf.net/tree/brisbane-box/
  5. ↑ Shire of Yarra Ranges, Streetscape Strategy
    "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  6. ↑ "' 'Tristania conferta R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 30 July 2013.

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