Leptospermum
/ˌlɛptoʊˈspɜːrməm/noun
A genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family, native mainly to Australia and nearby regions.
Did you know?Leptospermum was coined from Greek roots by botanists, and its name literally points to the plant’s slender seeds rather than any mystical property.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
λεπτός (leptós)
“thin, fine, slender”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σπέρμα (spérma)
“seed, offspring”
Late 18th–19th Century
New Latin
Leptospermum
“a botanical genus name formed from Greek roots”
Modern English
English
leptospermum
“a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family”
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