Leptospermum petersonii

The lemon myrtle ( Leptospermum petersonii ), in English-speaking Lemon - scented tea-tree ( Lemon Scented Tea Tree ) and in the German language, how many related species, called tea tree, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae ).

Description

The lemon myrtle grows as wide spreading shrub or small tree, reaching heights of growth 4-6 meters with richly branched stems. The bark is scaly and fibrous. The bark of young branches is only hairy at first. In the change-constant foliage leaves hardly a petiole is visible. The 20 to 40 mm long and 2-5 mm wide, usually glabrous leaf blade has lanceolate to narrowly elliptical shape and is flat or slightly curved back. The leaf margin is smooth. When you grind the leaves spread a lemon flavor.

The flowers are usually solitary. The hermaphrodite, radiärsymmetrische flower has a diameter of 1 to 1.5 cm and is fünfzählig with double perianth. The almost hairless flower cup ( hypanthium ) has a length of 3 to 4 mm and distinct glands. The sepals are 1.5 to 2.5 mm long and almost hairless. The white petals are 5-6 mm long. The many stamens are 2.5 to 3.5 mm long. Five carpels are fused to a fünfkammerigen ovary. The flowering period extends from late July to October.

The woody capsule fruit has a diameter of about 6 mm.

Ecology

The lemon myrtle is food plant and habitat for butterflies.

Occurrence

One finds ide lemon myrtle mostly near wet sclerophyll or rainforest in Australia, the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Also, for example, in Hawaii the lemon myrtle was introduced. It grows best in sandy or rocky soils.

Use

The leaves contain neral, and citronellal geranial and are used to brew and flavor of tea used to highlight is the lemon flavor. From the leaves of an oil is prepared with a bactericidal effect, in this regard, the medical effects have been investigated.

The lemon myrtle is planted as a windbreak. It is also used as an ornamental plant, for example, cut hedges.

System

The lemon myrtle was built in 1905 by Frederick Manson Bailey in Queensland Agricultural Journal, 15 (6): Wilson 's Peak, WJ Peterson, Jan, 1905. Firstdescribed. Synonyms for Leptospermum petersonii FMBailey are: Leptospermum citratum ( JFBailey & CT White ) Challinor et al, Leptospermum flavescens var citratum JFBailey & CTWhite.

Swell

• Text from Gwen Jean Harden: Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, 1991: Leptospermum petersonii - NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE. (English, accessed on July 1, 2010)