| Leptospermum liversidgei | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Leptospermum liversidgei R. Baker & H. G. Smith |
Leptospermum liversidgei or lemon-scented tea tree, or lemon teatree is a shrub to 4 m found naturally growing in wet coastal heath in Eastern Australia. Leaves are 5-7 mm long, with a distinctive lemony aroma. The white or pink flowers are solitary, followed by a woody capsule.
L.liversidgei has two essential oil chemotypes:
- The citral chemotype is used as a bushfood spice to flavour teas and food products. This citral chemotype is sometimes called "lemon teatree" when the dried leaves are used in tea, and as food flavouring. Small-scale production is from wild-harvesting.
- The citronellal chemotype is cultivated as a mosquito repellent.
The shrub is also cultivated as a garden ornamental.
Leptospermum petersonii, is also called "lemon-scented teatree", and produces a similar lemony essential oil.
References
- Harden, G.J., Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, ISBN 0-86840-164-1.
 |
This Australian rosid article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This Myrtaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
