tea tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• narrow-leaf paperbark
• narrow-leaf teatree
• teatree
• Narrow-leaved paperbark

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Melaleuca linariifolia var. alternifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Myrtales, and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Melaleuca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the specific regions of Australia. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated within the state of New South Wales. Additionally, it can be found growing across parts of Queensland. These two states represent the core areas of its geographical distribution. Consequently, the species is closely associated with the unique ecosystems found in these Australian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Melaleuca alternifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its persistence through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its visible conducting shoots well above the ground, contributing to its structural presence in its natural habitat. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without the seasonal shedding of leaves typical of deciduous species. Furthermore, its growth habit can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific stature and architectural development within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melaleuca alternifolia is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a mean height of 6 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melaleuca alternifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody shrubs that facilitates carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. Its vegetative structure features narrow, linear leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. These leaves are notably slender, maintaining a maximum width of only 0.1 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melaleuca alternifolia is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen between flowers. This insect-mediated process is a critical component of its reproductive cycle, ensuring genetic diversity through biological vectors. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that are characterized by their extremely minute size. The seed mass is highly variable, with a minimum value of 0.00001 g and a maximum reaching 0.0002 g, resulting in a calculated mean seed mass of 0.000105 g. These lightweight seeds are well-suited for dispersal within their natural environment following the reproductive phase.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

2e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000105 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Melaleuca alternifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC plant biology
4. PloS one
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Melaleuca alternifolia has 94 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include TEA TREE OIL, Terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-Cineole, TERPINOLENE, GAMMA-TERPINENE.

TEA TREE OIL

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Archives of dermatological research
3. Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
4. American journal of clinical dermatology
5. HNO

Terpinen-4-ol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of applied microbiology
5. BMC plant biology

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC plant biology
4. The Journal of applied bacteriology
5. Journal of chemical ecology

TERPINOLENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. The Journal of applied bacteriology
4. Journal of chemical ecology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

GAMMA-TERPINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied microbiology
3. The Journal of applied bacteriology
4. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied microbiology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Sesquiterpenes

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects
2. PloS one
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Alpha terpinene

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of applied bacteriology

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Linalool

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of applied bacteriology

Activities

Melaleuca alternifolia has 201 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anthelmintic, Antiviral.

Antimicrobial

1. Drug development and industrial pharmacy
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug
4. Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Current pharmaceutical design
5. Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects

Antifungal

1. Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecular biotechnology
4. Mycoses
5. Current pharmaceutical design

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
3. Current pharmaceutical design

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food technology and biotechnology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Repellent

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. International journal of dermatology

Medicinal Uses

Melaleuca alternifolia has 54 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dandruff, scabies, acne vulgaris, Candida albicans, acne.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations