Family:
Myrtaceae
Gaudium brevipes
Slender Tea-tree
Other Names: Grey Tea-tree
First Nations Name(s):
Name Origin:
brevipes — from Latin brevis, short, referring to stalks.
Regional Subspecies:
Occurrence:
Regional:
Noted in the upper Murray areas: Paddy’s River-Burra Valley; Tooma; Lower Tooma-Greg Greg and Bringenbrong-Khancoban.
Australia:
Qld, NSW, Vic.
Habitat:
Dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and shrubland, mostly on rocky granite outcrops.
Habit:
Shrub or small tree to 4 m high with smooth bark, reddish drooping branchlets and leaves mostly 1-2 cm long.
Site Preference:
Poor soils near streams. Sensitive to heavy frost when young. Tolerates limited periods of dryness.
Characteristics:
Hardy and fast-growing. Invasive in some areas and where stocking rates low.
Flowering:
White, Oct-Dec.
Seed Collection:
Throughout year as seeds generally retained. Seed extremely viable and remain so for many years in storage.
Propagation:
From seed or cuttings, which strike readily. Sow light scattering of seeds and cover lightly. Germinates in 2-5 weeks. Capillary watering should benefit seed. Suitable for direct seeding into pots.
Regeneration:
From seed. Regenerates quickly.
VALUES:
Shade & Shelter:
Excellent low-level cover in windbreaks.
Land Protection:
Useful in controlling streambank erosion due to soil-binding fibrous roots.
Wildlife:
Excellent streamside habitat. Shade and insect source for fish. Flowers are a good pollen source for many insects, including moths and butterflies, and nectar source for birds.
Ornamental:
Attractive ornamental for gardens, due to young reddish foliage and graceful habit. Prune to encourage bushiness.
Other:
Cut foliage decorative and dries well. Leaves and young shoots reputedly useful in treating urinary complaints in colonial medicine.