Melaleuca ericifolia

Lavender tea tree

Melaleuca ericifolia, commonly known as Heath-leaved Paperbark, is a stunning Australian shrub prized for its vibrant crimson blooms. Native to coastal heathlands, this hardy evergreen offers significant ecological value, providing nectar for pollinators while serving as a resilient ornamental plant in diverse landscapes and therapeutic botanical studies.

  • Scientific name: Melaleuca ericifolia
  • Family: Myrtaceae
  • Native range: Australasia

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified within the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Melaleuca.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Myrtales WCVP
Family Myrtaceae WCVP
Genus Melaleuca WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Melaleuca ericifolia, is referred to by various names depending on the language. In English, it is commonly called the lavender tea tree, while in Japanese, it is known as ラベンダーティーツリー. The names used in Arabic include بلقاء خلنجية الأوراق and ملالوكا خلنجية الأوراق, as well as the variant arz ملاлукَا خلنجية الاوراق.
Language Common Name Source
ar بلقاء خلنجية الأوراق Wikidata
arz بلقاء خلنجية الاوراق Wikidata
ja ラベンダーティーツリー Wikidata
ar ملالوكا خلنجية الأوراق Wikidata
en lavender tea tree Wikidata
en ericifolia Wikidata
ja エリシフォリア Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across several regions within the Australian continent. Its natural range extends throughout the state of New South Wales. Additionally, it can be located in the coastal and inland areas of Victoria. The species also makes an appearance in the southern landscapes of Tasmania. Therefore, its distribution is concentrated in the southeastern portions of Australia.

Region Area Source
Australia New South Wales WCVP
Australia Tasmania WCVP
Australia Victoria WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as heath-leaved paperbark, utilizes its leaves as a primary component for its medicinal and aromatic properties. The leaves are small, narrow, and needle-like, which helps the plant conserve moisture in its native habitats. In traditional medicinal practices, these leaves are often harvested to extract essential oils that possess antiseptic and antimicrobial qualities, making them a significant part of the plant's therapeutic profile.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Melaleuca ericifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 28-norlup-20(29)-en-3beta-hydroxy-17alpha-hydroperoxide, 28-norlup-20(29)-en-3beta-hydroxy-17beta-hydroperoxide.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
28-norlup-20(29)-en-3beta-hydroxy-17alpha-hydroperoxide 1 ★☆☆☆☆
28-norlup-20(29)-en-3beta-hydroxy-17beta-hydroperoxide 1 ★☆☆☆☆