Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum

Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum, commonly known as tantoon,^[2] is a subspecies of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with elliptical leaves and white flowers in spring.

Tantoon
In Sherwood Nature Reserve
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Leptospermum
Species:	L. polygalifolium
Subspecies:	L. p. subsp. cismontanum
Trinomial name
Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum Joy Thomps.[1]
Synonyms
Leptospermum flavescens var. leptophyllum Cheel Leptospermum flavescens var. microphyllum Benth.

Habit

Description

Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1 m (3 ft 3 in), sometimes a slender tree to 4 m (13 ft). Its leaves are elliptical, sometimes broader in the upper part, dull green but paler on the lower surface, usually 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide with the edges tending to turn downwards. The flowers are white, about 10 mm (0.39 in) in diameter with a hypanthium 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long. The sepals are 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long with pale, thin edges. Flowering occurs in September and October and the fruit is a capsule 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) in diameter.^[2][3]

Taxonomy

This subspecies was first described in 1989 by Joy Thompson in the journal Telopea, from specimens collected near Dungog in 1975.^[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. cismontanum is common in near-coastal forests between Fraser Island in Queensland and Gosford in New South Wales. It often grows on sandstone but is also found in coastal swamps, old dunes and hillsides.^[2][3]