Leptospermum petersonii

taxobox
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Myrtales
familia = Myrtaceae
genus = "Leptospermum"
binomial = "Leptospermum petersonii"
binomial_authority = Bailey|

"Leptospermum petersonii" (or "Leptsopermum citratum"), lemon-scented teatree is a tall shrub to small tree to 5 m which is cultivated as an ornamental and for essential oils. It naturally occurs near sclerophyll forest or rainforest, on sandy or rocky escarpements, on the East Coast of Australia. It has simple leaves, 20-40 mm long, with a distinctive lemony aroma. The flowers are white, followed by woody capsules.

The leaves are distilled commercially for the essential oil which contains citronellal, citral, and pinene. It is grown in plantations in Zaire, South Africa, Guatemala and Australia.

"Leptospermum liversidgei" is also called "lemon-scented teatree" due to the presence of lemony essential oils.

References

* Harden, G.J., "Flora of New South Wales, Volume 2", ISBN 0-86840-164-1.