Leptospermum liversidgei
| Leptospermum liversidgei | |
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| Species: | L. liversidgei
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| Binomial name | |
| Leptospermum liversidgei R. Baker & H. G. Smith
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Leptospermum liversidgei, commonly known as lemon-scented tea-tree,[1] swamp may, olive teatree, 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.
The name "Leptospermum" is from the Greek "leptos sperma" which means "thin seed", and "liversidgei" is after Professor A. Liversidge.
Leptospermum 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
- ^ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- Harden, G.J., Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2, ISBN 0-86840-164-1.
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