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.