Leptospermum liversidgei
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| Leptospermum liversidgei | ||||||||||||
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| 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.
[edit] References
- Harden, G.J., Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, ISBN 0-86840-164-1.
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