Leionema elatius, commonly known as tall phebalium,[2] is a shrub species that is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It has glossy green, variably-shaped leaves and clusters of white-lemon flowers in spring.
Leionema elatius is a shrub that grows to 2–5 m (6 ft 7 in – 16 ft 5 in) high with either smooth stems or with star-shaped hairs. The leaves are flat, lance-shaped, oblong or narrowly oval to spoon-shaped, 1.5–3.5 cm (0.59–1.38 in) long, 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) wide, upper surface shiny and smooth with a distinctive midrib below. The inflorescences are at the end of branches crowded by the leaves, pedicels and peduncles both slim. The calyx lobes are wide-triangular shaped and fleshy. The flower petals are white to light yellow, 3–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long and glandular. The fruit are about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and furrowed. Flowering occurs in spring.[2]
Tall phebalium was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller, who gave it the name Eriostemon elatior in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected near Tenterfield.[3][4] In 1998, Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema elatius and the change was published in the journal Nuytsia.[5][6] The specific epithet (elatius) is derived from the Latin meaning "taller".[7]
Wilson described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
Leionema elatius grows mostly on the ranges north of Bulahdelah and far south-eastern areas of Queensland.[6]
Leionema elatius, commonly known as tall phebalium, is a shrub species that is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It has glossy green, variably-shaped leaves and clusters of white-lemon flowers in spring.