NOUN

1 (also ti tree)

An Australasian flowering shrub or small tree whose leaves are sometimes used for tea. Some species yield an oil valued for its antiseptic properties.

Genera Leptospermum and Melaleuca, family Myrtaceae: several species, […].

EDIT: Since compiling this proposal, Oxford Dictionaries has changed its on-screen format & deleted half its former definition, the half that included the scientific name, thereby reducing its usefulness & reputation by half as well.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

noun

Definition of tea tree

1 : any of various Australasian shrubs or small trees (genus Leptospermum) of the myrtle family that form dense thickets and have aromatic evergreen foliage

[…]

Origin and Etymology of tea tree

from the use of an infusion of their leaves as a beverage

First Known Use: 1790

 

Wikipedia (EN):

Leptospermum /ˌlɛptəˈspɜːrməm, -toʊ-/ is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1775. […]

The common name tea tree for the Leptospermum species derives from the practice of early Australian settlers who soaked the leaves of several species in boiling water to make an herbal tea rich in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

 

Wairere Nursery (New Zealand):

The wonderful Tea Tree is part of a genus made up of about 80 species of evergreen shrubs or small trees with small narrow, needle-like leaves, some of which are aromatic when crushed, a bit lemony.

 

Burncoose Nurseries (Cornwall):

 

Australian National Botanic Gardens:

Leptospermum - family Myrtaceae

Commonly known as ‘teatrees’

 

Plants Database (US Department of Agriculture):

Leptospermum J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.

 

New Zealand Journal of Botany:

Checklist of fungi on teatree (Kunzea and Leptospermum species) in New Zealand

 

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bonsaipflege.ch (Altnau (Thurgau), Schweiz):

Teebaum - Leptospermum

 

Wikipedia (DE):

Als Teebaum werden verschiedene Bäume und Sträucher der Gattungen Baeckea, Kunzea, Leptospermum und Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) bezeichnet.

 

PflanzenReich (Lawalde, Sachsen):

Teebaum zählt zur botanischen Gattung Leptospermum aus der Familie der Myrtaceae (Myrtengewächse).

Pictures / Bilder of various species of Leptospermum

 

Taxonomic citation:

• Leptospermum J.R. Forster & G. Forster, Characteres Generum Plantarum (ed. 2) 71. 1776.

 

Selected species with English or German common names (not proposed):

• Leptospermum ambiguum Sm. (1797) (syn.: Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (1917)) - tickbush, white kunzea [se. Austral., Tasm.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum continentale Joy Thomps. (1989) - prickly tea-tree [se. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum coriaceum (F. Muell. ex Miq.) Cheel (1923) - green tea-tree, mallee tea-tree [s. & se. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum ericoides A. Rich. (1832) (syn.: Kunzea ericoides (A. Rich.) Joy Thomps. (1983)) - burgan, kanuka, white tea-tree [se. Austral., NZ]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum juniperinum Sm. (1797) - prickly tea-tree [e. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum laevigatum (Gaertn.) F. Muell. (1858) - Australian myrtle, Australian tea-tree, coastal tea-tree, sandstay [s. & e. Austral., Tasm.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum lanigerum (Aiton) Sm. (1797) - woolly tea-tree [s. & e. Austral., Tasm.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum liversidgei R.T. Baker & H.G. Sm. (1906) - citron-scented tea-tree, lemon tea-tree, lemon-scented tea-tree, olive tea-tree, swamp may [e. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum myrsinoides Schltdl. (1847) - heath tea-tree, silky tea-tree [s. & se. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum nitidum Hook. f. (1856) - shining tea-tree [Tasm.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum obovatum Sweet (1827) - river tea-tree [se. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum petersonii F.M. Bailey (1905) - common tea-tree, lemon-scented tea-tree :: Zitronenmyrte [e. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. (1796) - common tea-tree, jelly bush, lemon-scented tea-tree, tantoon [e. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum sericeum Labill. (1806) - swamp tea-tree [sw. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum spectabile Joy Thomps. (1989) - Colo River tea-tree [NSW]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum squarrosum C.F. Gaertn. (1788) - peach-blossom tea-tree, pink tea-tree [NSW]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum trinervium (Sm.) Joy Thomps. (1989) - paperbark tea-tree [e. Austral.]

--- See pictures

• Leptospermum turbinatum Joy Thomps. - shiny tea-tree [Vict.]

--- See pictures

 

Other scientific synonyms (not proposed):

• Fabricia Gaertn. (1788)

• Leptospermopsis S. Moore (1920)

• Macklottia Korth. (1847)

 

4871 - Myrtaceae