Lophostemon

Lophostemon
Lophostemon confertus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Lophostemon Schott
Species
See text.

Lophostemon is a genus of 4 species of evergreen tree in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. All four species are native to Australia, with one extending to New Guinea. The genus is a relatively recent creation; all 4 species were previously included in the related genus Tristania.

The most well-known species, L. confertus is a familiar tree to many people living along the east coast of Australia, where it known colloquially as the brush box. Quite frequently, it has been planted as a street tree, a role it isn't suited for as it grows to 30 metres in height and quite often suffers lopping due to obstructing overhead power lines.

Lophostemon species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Aenetus ligniveren.

Species include:

• Lophostemon confertus (Brush Box, Queensland Box, Brisbane Box)
• Lophostemon grandiflorus (Northern Swamp Box)
• Lophostemon lactifluus
• Lophostemon suaveolens (Swamp Mahogany, Swamp Turpentine, Swamp Box)

Small L. suaveolens tree.

References

• Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. "Lophostemon". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=LOPHOSTEMON. Retrieved 2007-10-05.