Tea Tree
Leptospermum polygalifolium 'Pacific
Beauty'
family MYRTACEAE.
Tea Tree obtained its name through
the use of its leaves infused in boiling water and used as a tea
substitute by early settlers. There are 83 recognized species of Tea
Tree in Australia of which 81 are endemic. They are easy to propagate from
cuttings or seeds, will grow in poor soils with acid conditions and are
salt spray tolerant. They make good screen plants because of their dense
foliage.
Tea Tree oil The term "tea tree oil" is somewhat of a misnomer
since Melaleuca alternifolia is a
paperbark rather
than a tea tree (genus Leptospermum). Tea tree oil should also not be
confused with tea oil, the sweetish seasoning and cooking oil from pressed
seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis or the tea oil plant Camellia
oleifera.
