Leptospermum javanicum

Leptospermum javanicum is a species of tree that is native to Myanmar, western and central Malesia. It has fibrous bark on the trunk, leaves that are much paler on the lower surface, relatively large white flowers and woody fruit.

Leptospermum javanicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. javanicum
Binomial name
Leptospermum javanicum
Occurrence data from AVH

Description

Leptospermum javanicum is a tree that typically grows to a height of about 6 m (20 ft) and has fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches. The branchlets are covered with soft hairs when young and have prominent flanges extending from the base of the leaves. The leaves are elliptical to egg-shaped, dark green on the upper surface and much paler below, 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long, 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) wide. The flowers are white, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide and are borne singly on short side branches on a pedicel up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The floral cup is covered with soft, silky hairs and the edges of the sepals are densely hairy. The petals are white and the fruit is a woody capsule that is domed above, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) wide.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum javanicum was first formally described in 1826 by Carl Ludwig Blume in the his book Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie.[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

This tea-tree grows at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,000 m (4,900 and 9,800 ft) from Myanmar to western Malesia.[2]

Uses

Isolates from L. javanicum have shown potential as anti-cancer treatments by inducing apoptosis in lung cancer cells and distorting their ability to undergo metastasis.[5]

References
  1. "Leptospermum javanicum". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Bean, Anthony R. (1992). "The Genus Leptospermum Forst. et Forst. f. (Myrtaceae) in Northern Australia and Malesia". Austrobaileya. 3 (4): 652–653. JSTOR 41738808.
  3. "Leptospermum javanicum". APNI. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. Blume, Carl Ludwig (1826). Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie. Batavia: Ter Lands Drukkerij. p. 1100. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. Navanesan, Suerialoasan; Abdul Wahab, Norhanom; Manickam, Sugumaran; Cheow, Yuen Lin; Sim, Kae Shin (August 2017). "Intrinsic capabilities of Leptospermum javanicum in inducing apoptosis and suppressing the metastatic potential of human lung carcinoma cells". Chemico-Biological Interactions. 273: 37–47. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2017.05.022. PMID 28578903.
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