Gaudium laevigatum
Environmental Weed (2024)
Common names
Victorian tea tree
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Red/Pink, White
Similar taxa
It is easily distinguished from the New Zealand species by the almost oblong leaves and the capsules contain 7–10 cells. Leptospermum scoparium has narrow-lanceolate or ovate leaves and capsules contain 5 cells.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Threats
This taxon may be prone to Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an invasive fungus which threatens myrtle species. Learn more myrtlerust.org.nz.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Myrtaceae
Synonyms
Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F.Muell.
Ecology
Year naturalised
1982
Origin
S.E. Australia, Tasmania
Other information
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of 386 environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.