Melaleuca
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221709827
2008-06-25T19:03:25Z
LeadSongDog
4209904
/* Traditional Aboriginal uses */
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Melaleuca''
| image = Melaleuca armillaris.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Melaleuca armillaris|M. armillaris]]'' foliage and flowers
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Myrtales]]
| familia = [[Myrtaceae]]
| genus = ''Melaleuca''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] nom. cons.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
Over 200; see [[List of Melaleuca species|List of ''Melaleuca'' species]]
}}
'''''Melaleuca''''' is a [[genus]] of [[plant]]s in the myrtle family [[Myrtaceae]]. There are well over 200 recognized species, most of which are endemic to [[Australia]].<ref name=Craven/> A few species occur in [[Malesia]] and 7 species are endemic to [[New Caledonia]].<ref name=Craven>{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/people/craven.lyn.melaleuca.html|title=Melaleuca group of genera|accessdate=2008-04-08 |author=Craven, Lyn |publisher=Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research}}</ref><ref name=Endémía>{{cite web|title=Genre ''Melaleuca'' L.|url=http://www.endemia.nc/plante/fiche.php?code=444 |work=Endémía - Faune & Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie| accessdate=2008-04-08}}</ref>
The species are [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s growing (depending on species) to 2–30 m tall, often with flaky, exfoliating [[bark]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], alternately arranged, ovate to lanceolate, 1-25 cm long and 0.5-7 cm broad, with an entire margin, dark green to grey-green in colour. The [[flower]]s are produced in dense clusters along the stems, each flower with fine small petals and a tight bundle of stamens; flower colour varies from white to pink, red, pale yellow or greenish. The [[fruit]] is a small capsule containing numerous minute [[seed]]s.
''Melaleuca'' is closely related to ''[[Callistemon]]'', the main difference between the genera being that the [[stamen]]s are generally free in ''Callistemon'' but grouped into bundles in ''Melaleuca''.
In the wild, ''Melaleuca'' plants are generally found in open forest, woodland or shrubland, particularly along watercourses and the edges of swamps.
The best-accepted common name for ''Melaleuca'' is simply '''melaleuca'''; however most of the larger species are also known as '''paperbarks''', and the smaller types as '''honey myrtles'''. They are also sometimes referred to as '''punk trees'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/melaleuca/melaleuca.htm|title=Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)|accessdate=2008-05-10|publisher=[[University of Florida]]}}</ref>
One well-known melaleuca, the Ti tree (aka tea tree), ''[[Melaleuca alternifolia]]'', is notable for its [[essential oil]] which is both [[antifungal drug|anti-fungal]], and [[antibiotic]], while safely usable for topical applications. This is produced on a commercial scale, and marketed as [[Tea Tree Oil]]. The Ti tree is not actually usable for making tea, but presumably named for the brown colouration of many water courses caused by shed leaves from this species and other similar species trees, for a famous example see [[Brown Lake (Stradbroke Island)]]). The name "tea tree" is also used for a related genus, ''[[Leptospermum]]''. Both Leptospermum and Melaleuca are [[myrtle]]s of the family, ''[[Myrtaceae]]''.
In Australia, ''Melaleuca'' species are sometimes used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of [[Hepialidae|hepialid]] [[moth]]s of the genus ''[[Aenetus]]'' including ''[[Aenetus ligniveren|A. ligniveren]]''. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down.
Melaleucas are popular garden plants, both in Australia and other tropical areas worldwide. In [[Hawaii]] and the [[Florida]] [[everglades]], ''[[Melaleuca quinquenervia]]'' (Broad-leaved Paperbark) was introduced in order to help drain low-lying swampy areas. It has since gone on to become a serious [[invasive species|invasive weed]] with potentially very serious consequences being that the plants are highly flammable and spread aggressively. Melaleuca populations have nearly quadrupled in southern Florida over the past decade, as can be noted on [[IFAS]]'s [http://biscuitgis.com/srfer/ SRFer Mapserver]
The genus ''[[Callistemon]]'' was recently placed into ''Melaleuca''.
== Uses ==
===Traditional Aboriginal uses===
[[Australian Aborigines|Aborigines]] used the leaves traditionally for many [[bush medicine|medicinal]] purposes, including chewing the young leaves to alleviate [[headache]] and for other ailments.
The softness and flexibility of the paperbark itself made it an extremely useful tree to Aboriginal people. It was used to line [[coolamon (vessel)|coolamons]] when used as cradles, as a [[bandage]], as a sleeping mat, and as material for building [[humpy|humpies]]. It was also used for wrapping food for cooking (in the same way aluminium foil is today), as a disposable raincoat, and for tamping holes in canoes. In the [[Gadigal]] language, it is called ''Bujor''. <ref>[http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/plant_info/aboriginal_bush_foods Aboriginal bush foods]</ref>
===Modern uses===
Scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil made from ''Melaleuca alternifolia'' is a highly effective [[topical]] [[antibacterial]] and [[antifungal]], although it may be toxic when ingested internally in large doses or by children. In rare cases, topical products can be absorbed by the skin and result in toxicity.
The oils of Melaleuca can be found in [[organic food|organic]] solutions of medication that claims to eliminate [[wart]]s, including the [[Human papillomavirus]]. No scientific evidence proves this claim (reference: "Forces of Nature: Warts No More").
Melaleuca oils are the active ingredient in Burn-Aid, a popular minor burn [[first aid]] treatment (an offshoot of the brandname [[Band-Aid]]).
Melaleuca oils (tea tree oil) is also used in many pet fish remedies (such as Melafix and Bettafix) to treat bacterial and fungal infections. Bettafix is a lighter dilution of tea tree oil while Melafix is a stronger dilution. It is most commonly used to promote fin and tissue regrowth. The remedies are often associated with [[Betta]] fish ([[Siamese Fighting Fish]]) but are also used with other fish.
==Weeds==
Melaleucas were introduced to [[Florida]] in the [[United States]] in the early 20th century to assist in drying out swampy land and as garden plants.
Once widely planted in Florida, it forms dense thickets and displaces native vegetation on {{convert|391000|acre|km2}} of wet pine flatwoods, sawgrass marshes, and cypress swamps in the southern part of the state. [It is prohibited by DEP and listed as a noxious weed by FDACS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AG108 |work=Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted |title=Melaleuca |publisher=[[National Park Service]] (United States) |date=[[27 June]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Paperbark.jpg|A paperbark in Melbourne
Image:Melaleuca quinquenervia bark.jpg|''Melaleuca quinquenervia'' bark showing the papery exfoliation from which the common name 'paperbark' derives
Image:Paperbark-trees-in-Tasmania.jpg|Paperbark trees in [[Tasmania]] after sunset
Image:Koeh-092.jpg|19th century illustration of ''[[Melaleuca leucadendra]]''
</gallery>
==References==
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* {{cite journal | quotes=no|author=Takarada K et al.|year= 2004|title= A comparison of the antibacterial efficacies of essential oils against oral pathogens|journal=Oral Microbiol. Immunol.|volume= 19 |issue=1|pages= 61–64 | doi = 10.1046/j.0902-0055.2003.00111.x}}
* {{cite journal | quotes=no|author=Hammer KA et al.|year= 2003|title= Susceptibility of oral bacteria to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil in vitro|journal=Oral Microbiol. Immunol.|volume= 18 |issue=6|pages= 389–392 | doi = 10.1046/j.0902-0055.2003.00105.x}}
* {{cite journal | quotes=no|author=Hammer KA et al.|year= 2003|title= Antifungal activity of the components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil|journal=J. Appl. Microbiol.|volume= 95 |issue=4|pages= 853–860 | doi = 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2003.02059.x}}
* {{cite journal | quotes=no|author=Oliva B et al.|year= 2003|title= Antimycotic activity of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil and its major components|journal=Lett. Appl. Microbiol.|volume= 37| issue=2|pages= 185–187 | doi = 10.1046/j.1472-765X.2003.01375.x}}
* {{cite journal | quotes=no|author=Mondello F et al.|year= 2003|title= In vitro and in vivo activity of tea tree oil against azole-susceptible and -resistant human pathogenic yeasts|journal=J. Antimicrob. Chemother.|volume= 51 |issue=5|pages= 1223–1229 | doi = 10.1093/jac/dkg202|pmid= 12668571}}
</div>
==See also==
*[[List of Melaleuca species]]
*[[Poliopaschia lithochlora]], a proposed agent for eradication
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Melaleuca}}
* [http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/index.htm TAME Melaleuca Project] - [[Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences]]
* [http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/melaleuc.html Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants - Melaleuca Page]
[[Category:Melaleuca]]
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[[zh:千层树]]