Melaleuca

The best-accepted common name for Melaleuca is simply melaleuca; however most of the larger species are also known as paperbarks, and the smaller types as honey myrtles and bottlebrush. They are also sometimes referred to as punk trees.
The flowers are produced in dense clusters along the stems, each flower with fine small petals and a tight bundle of stamens; flower colour varies from white to pink, red, pale yellow or greenish. The fruit is a small capsule containing numerous minute seeds.
Depending on the species they grow from 2 - 30 m tall
There are around 200 recognized species endemic to Australia.

Aborigines used the leaves traditionally for many medicinal purposes, including chewing the young leaves to alleviate headache and for other ailments.

when used as cradles, as a The softness and flexibility of the paperbark itself made it an extremely useful tree to Aboriginal people. It was used to line coolamons when used as cradles, as a bandage, as a sleeping mat, and as material for building humpies. It was also used for wrapping food for cooking (in the same way aluminium foil is today), as a disposable raincoat, and for tamping holes in canoes. In the Gadigal language, it is called Bujor.

Scientific studies have shown that tea tree oil made from Melaleuca alternifolia is a highly effective topical antibacterial and >antifungal, although it may be toxic when ingested internally in large doses or by children. In rare cases, topical products can be absorbed by the skin and result in toxicity.

For more Photos of Melaleuca's.

We have a number of Melaleuca's in our back yard on the Gold Coast and besides beautifying our garden, find that these trees attract a lot of birds and bees.

MELALEUCA