Lophostemon confertus  (box brush)

Classification

Division:	Angiospermae
Class:	Rosidae
Family:	Myrtaceae

Geographic Range

The box brush originated in Australia where it is widespread on rainforest margins and eucalypt forests along the coast and tablelands of New South Wales and Queensland.

Physical Characteristics

Height:	Ranges from 30 to 54 m
Diameter:	Around 2m

The box brush has rough and scaly light grey or brown bark on its lower trunk which becomes a smooth pinkish-brown as one ascends to the younger bark on the upper trunk and branches. It has glossy greeen foliage whose leaves grow in circular groups of 4 or 5. Each leaf is 120 mm in length with a variable width of 8-15 cm or 40-45 cm. The box brush also produces fruits which are a flat topped bell-shaped woody capsules 8-13 mm long that ripen in winter and spring months. And in the spring and summer, bell-shaped white feathery flowers, 10-30 mm long and 25 mm across, can be seen growing in clusters of 3-8 (Cronin).

Natural History

Reproduction

The seeds of the box brush, which are 2-3mm long and contained in the fruit, are the method of propagation.

Habitat

The box brush is a unique tree in that its distribution is dependent upon soil moisture availability. It is most common in the Australian rainforests of New South Wales and can be seen in Lamington National Park as well. Interestingly however, it is also able to reside in the woodland and coastal headlands of islands such as North Stradbroke.

Conservation/Biodiversity

The Lophostemon confertus is among one of the 4600 species of plants introduced to the Hawaiian Islands over the last 200 years that has unfortunately become detrimental to the native vegetation there.

Economic Benefits for Humans

Positive

The box brush has the ability to carry nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots, therefore it is often introduced to parks and other regions where it does not naturally occur because of this ability to improve soil fertility.
The box brush is also a popular tree used to line public streets because it provides both beauty and shade to the area.

References and Links

Reference:	UH Botany
Reference URL:	http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/cw_smith/impact.htm
Reference:	Biodiversity Status
Reference URL:	http://www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/science/wildlife/central.pdf
Reference:	Alstonville Tree Farm
Reference URL:	http://www.treefarm.com.au/Lophostemon_confertus_x.htm
Reference:	Australian Farm
Reference URL:	http://users.bit.net.au/~peterrjo/plants.html?i.html
Reference:	Cronin, Leonard. "Key Guide to Australian Trees" Reed 1988 pg.78

Image Source

Reference:	Box Brush
Reference URL:	http://environment.prsc.qld.gov.au/images/brush_box.jpg" height=273 width=409

---

Entry Author:

Nicole Palermo

William Smith College

2002