Melaleuca leucadendra

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Weeping Tea Tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Melaleuca Species: M. leucadendra
Binomial name
Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L.

Melaleuca leucadendra is a tree belonging to the Melaleuca genus. It is widely distributed in northern parts of Australia (Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland) and is found even further north in the Solomon Islands and in New Guinea^[1]. This tree is similar to the Broad-leaf Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) in its thick spongy bark. However, the foliage of M. leucadendra is of a brighter green and has a slightly weeping habit^[1].

M. leucadendra is also given the common name Cajuput Tree, which is derived from the Malay word kayu putih (old Indonesian spelling: kaju putih) - meaning "white wood". Cajuput oil can be distilled from its leaves.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Burke's Backyard Archives 1998 - Weeping Paperbark.