Leptospermum luehmannii

Also known as: The Glasshouse Tea Tree

Leptospermum luehmannii is a shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of 5 m (16 ft). It has smooth, reddish brown bark that peels in long strips. The leaves are elliptical, glossy when mature, mostly 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) wide on a very short petiole. The flowers are white, 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) wide on a short pedicel and arranged on short shoots on the upper leaf axils.

The floral cup is glabrous, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, the sepals blunt triangular 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long, the petals mostly 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and the stamens 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from January to February and the fruit is a capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and that is shed soon after the seeds are released.^[2]

Leptospermum luehmannii was first formally described in 1900 by Frederick Manson Bailey in his book The Queensland Flora. The specific epithet honours J.G.Luehmann.^[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

This tea-tree grows on the summit and slopes of the Glass House Mountains and in the Numinbah Valley.^[2]

The National Herbarium of New South Wales lists this species as having the common names “ngun ngun may bush”, or “hillside wild may bush” and as occurring in New South Wales between Grafton and Glen Innes, although with a note that the “NSW population [is] likely to be taxonomically distinct.”^[5]

“Mount Ngungun (pronounced ‘noo noo’) but generally known as “Gun Gun” is a very popular hike due to its relative ease and fantastic views. Traditional owners have asked that this mountain not be climbed.”

“A well defined graded track with some steep sections. The track begins in open forest with a fern understory. Part way up the mountain, there is a great view of Mt Tibrogargan as the track passes a small rock overhang. The summit provides spectacular close-up views of nearby Mt Tibrogargan, Mt Tibberoowuccum, Mt Coonowrin and Mt Beerwah.”

Notes

^ ^ab“Leptospermum luehmannii“. Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 April 2020. ^ ^ab Thompson, Joy (1989). “A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)”. Telopea. 3 (3): 358–359. ^“Leptospermum luehmannii“. APNI. Retrieved 15 April 2020. ^ Bailey, Frederick Manson (1900). The Queensland Flora (Volume 2). Brisbane: H.J. Diddams. p. 592. Retrieved 16 April 2020. ^“Leptospermum luehmannii“. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 16 April 2020.

Useful links to further information

• Ngun Ngun May Bush, Observation.org
• Glasshouse Mountains Tea Tree
• Leptospermum – family Myrtaceae, Australian Plant Information
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Leptospermum luehmanii “Ngun Ngun May Bush”, Paten Park Native Nursery
• Mt Ngungun, Rock climbing, theCrag
• Ngungun May Bush (Leptospermum luehmanni), iNaturalist