Back
Melaleuca cajuputi Powell
| Family Name: | Myrtaceae |
| Synonyms: | Melaleuca leucadendron, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Melaleuca leucadendra |
| Common Name: | Gelam, Paper Bark Tree, Kayu Puteh, Tea Tree, Paper-bark, Cajeput, Cajeput Oil Tree, White Tree, White Wood, 白千层 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, south-western Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Presumed Nationally Extinct (NEx)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an evergreen tree up to 40 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | The trunk is spongy to the touch. Bark is white and flaky. |
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are elliptic to lance-shaped, greyish-green, and 3-12.5 by 1.1-3.75 cm, with distinct longitudinal veins. |
| Flowers | Its flowering shoot is a densely-flowered single spike, or 2-3 together, with each being 3.5-9 by 2-2.5 cm. Its tiny flowers have white, greenish-white or cream petals. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are cup-shaped to round, 3-3.5 by 3.5-4 mm, and contain many tiny seeds. |
| Habitat | Mainly found in low swampy and regularly flooded coastal plains, often behind the true mangrove zone where it may form pure stands or mixed stands. |
| Associated Fauna | It is a known food plant for the caterpillars of the atlas moth (Attacus atlas), Clethrogyna turbata, and Strepsicrates rhothia. The flowers are often visited by the olive-backed sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) and crimson sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja). |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek "melas", black. Greek "leukos", white, referring to the colours on the bark of the trunk and branches. Malay "kayu", wood. Malay "putih" white, referring to the white papery bark of the species. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: The leaves are used to distill 'cajeputi oil' or 'tea tree oil' which has medicinal and antiseptic uses such as medical ointments. It is used to treat gout by the Burmese. in Southeast Asia, it is used for relieving rheumatism and joint pains, as well as pain killer. In Malaysia, it is used in the treatment of colic and cholera. In Indonesia, the oil is used externally for burns, colic, cramps, earache, headache, skin diseases, toothache and wounds. Internally, it is used to induce sweating as a stimulant and as an antispasmodic. In Philippines, the leaves are used to treat asthma. Timber & Products: The timber is hard and has a uniform texture and is popular for use in caving, cabinet work, boat building and fire wood. The bark flakes are used for insulation and for stuffing pillows. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting, Bird-Attracting (Flowers), Caterpillar Moth Food Plant (Leaves, Associated with (Attacus atlas, Clethrogyna turbata, and Strepsicrates rhothia.) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Silver / Grey |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody, Twisted, Single |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | White |
| Mature Bark Texture | Peeling / Flaking / Papery |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Inflorescence Type | Spike |
| Flowering Period | A Few Times Yearly |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Description | Very small and round. About 2mill/kg |
References
| References | Tan, P.Y., R.T. Corlett and H.T.W. Tan (Editors). 2010. A Field Guide to the Native Garden @ HortPark: an Urban Oasis of the Native Flora and Fauna of Singapore. Singapore: Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (National Parks Board) and National University of Singapore. 124pp |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1726 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3019 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
