Family: Myrtaceae
Leptospermum turbinatum (shiny tea tree, Grampians tea-tree) is a perennial shrub native to Victoria, Australia. It is sometimes used as a windbreak, a hedge, or in Xeriscape gardens. It is not documented to be naturalized on any Hawaiian Islands to date. This plant is moderately flammable, shade tolerant, and has persistent, woody capsules that spread easily by wind. There are no reports of naturalization thus far, but the plant has some troubling characteristics.
High Risk Traits:
- Other species are invasive
- Moderately flammable (could increase fire risk)
- Shade tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds in persistent woody capsules; likely dispersed by wind, and intentionally cultivated by people
- Persistent capsules may result in a persistent canopy seed bank
- Resprouts after fire and pruning
Low Risk Traits:
- A temperate species unlikely to be a threat in warmer, lower elevation regions of tropical island ecosystems
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Not reported to spread vegetatively