|
The Tantoon tea tree (Leptospermum flavescens) belongs to Myrtaceae (the Myrtle family). It is a small evergreen tree that is native to eastern Australia. It is now naturalized in New Zealand, New Guinea, and Southeast Asia. It grows in coastal gravelly areas, reaching heights of 1 to 3 m. The bark is soft and thinly flaky. Leaves are narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, about 20 mm long, with entire margins. Crushing the leaves releases a lemon scent. From October to November, it produces white, five-petaled flowers in the leaf axils. The flowers turn yellowish when dried. The fruit is a bowl-shaped, woody capsule. The leaves are used for medicine, tea, and to extract volatile oils.
|