Leptospermum arachnoides
species of plant
Leptospermum arachnoides, commonly known as the spidery tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough bark, crowded linear to lance-shaped leaves with a sharp point on the end, white flowers and hairy fruit.
Description
Leptospermum arachnoides is a slender, spreading shrub that typically grows to 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) high and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide and has rough, peeling, flaky bark. The leaves are linear to lance-shaped or elliptical, mostly 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide, concave in cross-section, with a sharp point on the end and on a very short but broad petiole. The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils and are 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) in diameter with a hairy floral cup about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The sepals are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and hairy, the petals about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and white, the stamens are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from November to January and the fruit is a hairy capsule 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) in diameter.
Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum arachnoides was first formally described in 1788 by Joseph Gaertner in his book De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum. The specific epithet (‘’arachnoides’’) is derived from Latin, meaning "resembling a spider".
Distribution and habitat
Spidery tea-tree grows in moist heath and sclerophyll forest, usually on shallow soils derived from sandstone and granite.
The public source identifies “Leptospermum arachnoides” as species of plant. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Leptospermum, arachnoides and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Leptospermum arachnoides”, the useful work is to connect “species of plant” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 6, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q15368856. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1788.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Leptospermum arachnoides”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Leptospermum arachnoides primary sources, Leptospermum arachnoides archive and Leptospermum research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Leptospermum arachnoides”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Leptospermum arachnoides” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.