Digital Garden

Melaleuca viminalis

Bottle Brush

Melaleuca viminalis

 Scientific Name- Melaleuca viminalis (Synonyms Callistemon viminalis )

Common name-  Drooping bottle brush

 Family- Myrtaceae

 Habit type-  Small Tree or Large shrub

Leaves- Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 1–5 in. long, 0.1–1 in. wide, more or less flat, very narrow elliptical to narrow egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and the other end tapering to a sharp point. The leaves have a mid-vein, 9-27 lateral veins and large number of conspicuous oil glands. oil glands.

Bark – Furrowed

Flowers- The flowers are bright red and are arranged in spikes on and around the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The spikes are 1–2 in. in diameter and 2–4 in. long with 15 to 50 individual flowers. The petals are 0.1–0.2 in. long and fall off as the flower ages and the stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower. The bundles are sometimes obscure but each contains 9 to 14 stamens. Flowering occurs from September to December and often sporadically throughout the year.

Fruit- Dry, woody capsules; seeds are shed upon maturity.

Medicinal importance and Significance-

·   A widely grown garden plant and street tree is a hardy species in most soils when grown in full sun.

·   It is useful as a screening plant and is suitable for planting as a street tree. Leaves and flowers are used to make a very pleasant tea.

·   It is used as an anti-ageing cosmetics ingredient. It has anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant properties, antifungal, antiviral, anticough, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, etc.