Details Top

Internal ID UUID643fe31f316d5072165940
Scientific name Melaleuca linariifolia
Authority Sm.
First published in Trans. Linn. Soc. London 3: 278 (1797)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
The species yields a melaleuca-type essential oil that is used as a fragrance and flavoring ingredient in consumer goods. It is not a major source of commercial “tea tree oil,” which is defined for Melaleuca alternifolia, M. teretifolia, M. alternifolia × M. linariifolia, and M. alternifolia × M. teretifolia (ISO 4730).

Industrial and craft applications:
The essential oil is used as a fragrance in soaps, detergents, air fresheners, and household cleaners, typically at low use levels typical of fragrance compounds. The oil is also used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages at levels consistent with flavor industry practice. No other documented industrial or craft applications have been verified for this species.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The essential oil is used as a natural flavoring in processed foods and beverages. It may be included as part of “nib: niaouli oil” listings in industry-relevant compendia (e.g., FEMA GRAS, FEMA/FDA 21 CFR 172.510) in accordance with typical flavoring application levels.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The oil functions as a perfume and deodorizing ingredient in cosmetics and personal-care products, including soaps, shampoos, and lotions, generally complying with the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards for fragrance materials.

Properties relevant to use:
The oil is characterized by a typically high 1,8-cineole content, which confers a fresh, cineolic aroma; it also contains monoterpenes such as α-pinene, limonene, and sabinene. These volatile constituents determine its suitability as a fragrance/flavor material.

Standards and regulation:
In fragrances, materials are assessed and used under IFRA standards and norms. The species is not covered by ISO 4730 (Melaleuca teretifolia, M. alternifolia and specified hybrids). For flavor uses, it is included under flavoring listings and relevant food additive regulations.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial quantities are obtained by steam distillation of foliage and small branches. Literature indicates leaf harvesting, and oils may be sourced from cultivated or wild-harvested material. Detailed sustainability metrics (e.g., yields per hectare, growth rates) are not well documented in the referenced sources.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Melaleuca hyssopifolia (Cav.) Dum.Cours. Bot. Cult. ed. 2, 5: 375. 1811 (1811)
Melaleuca stricta hort. ex Dum.Cours. Bot. Cult. , ed. 2, 5: 375 (1811)
Metrosideros hyssopifolia Cav. Icon. [Cavanilles] iv. 20.
Myrtoleucodendron linariifolium Kuntze Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 241 (1891)
Ozandra hyssopifolia (Sm.) Raf. Autik. Bot. : 148 (1840)
Melaleuca linariifolia var. typica Domin Biblioth. Bot. 22(89): 456 (1928)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English cajeput tree
Spanish melaleuca stricta
Spanish myrtoleucodendron linariifolium
Spanish melaleuca hyssopifolia
Spanish metrosideros hyssopifolia
Spanish ozandra hyssopifolia
French mélaleuque à feuilles linéaires
Chinese 狭叶白千层
Chinese 柳穿鱼叶白千层
Chinese 柳穿魚葉白千层

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000239685
UNII M2G1V7OAZ4
Florida Plant Atlas 42
USDA Plants MELI7
Tropicos 100221075
INPN 630131
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:598003-1
The Plant List kew-123749
Open Tree Of Life 655547
Observations.org 345514
NCBI Taxonomy 73763
Nature Serve 2.148911
IUCN Red List 177372057
IPNI 598003-1
iNaturalist 165216
GBIF 5415842
Freebase /m/026pf0m
EOL 2508583
Elurikkus 535327
Calflora (Californian flora) 12669
USDA GRIN 23806
Wikipedia Melaleuca_linariifolia

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Plant Essential Oils as Biopesticides: Applications, Mechanisms, Innovations, and Constraints Gupta I, Singh R, Muthusamy S, Sharma M, Grewal K, Singh HP, Batish DR Plants (Basel) 10-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10458566
doi:10.3390/plants12162916
PMID:37631128
Sun-Safe Zones: Investigating Integrated Shading Strategies for Children’s Play Areas in Urban Parks Cherian NC, Subasinghe C Int J Environ Res Public Health 22-Dec-2022
PMCID:PMC9819332
doi:10.3390/ijerph20010114
PMID:36612436
Treatment of refractory generalized granuloma annulare with oral vitamin E and topical tea tree oil Colwell R, Bennett DD, Endo J JAAD Case Rep 20-Jun-2022
PMCID:PMC9294483
doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2022.06.004
PMID:35865728
Global Perspective of Plant-Based Cosmetic Industry and Possible Contribution of Sri Lanka to the Development of Herbal Cosmetics Nadeeshani Dilhara Gamage DG, Dharmadasa RM, Chandana Abeysinghe D, Saman Wijesekara RG, Prathapasinghe GA, Someya T Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 04-Mar-2022
PMCID:PMC8916882
doi:10.1155/2022/9940548
PMID:35280508
Description of an Australian endemic species of Trioza (Hemiptera: Triozidae) pest of the endemic tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia (Myrtaceae) Martoni F, Blacket MJ PLoS One 22-Sep-2021
PMCID:PMC8457488
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0257031
PMID:34550976
Large area used by squirrel gliders in an urban area, uncovered using GPS telemetry Meyer NF, King J, Mahony M, Clulow J, Beranek C, Reedman C, Balkenhol N, Hayward MW Ecol Evol 19-May-2021
PMCID:PMC8216951
doi:10.1002/ece3.7644
PMID:34188802
The Influence of Toothpaste Containing Australian Melaleuca alternifolia Oil and Ethanolic Extract of Polish Propolis on Oral Hygiene and Microbiome in Patients Requiring Conservative Procedures Piekarz T, Mertas A, Wiatrak K, Rój R, Kownacki P, Śmieszek-Wilczewska J, Kopczyńska E, Wrzoł M, Cisowska M, Szliszka E, Czuba ZP, Niedzielska I, Morawiec T Molecules 13-Nov-2017
PMCID:PMC6150324
doi:10.3390/molecules22111957
PMID:29137160
Oral Health of Patients Treated with Acrylic Partial Dentures Using a Toothpaste Containing Bee Product Wiatrak K, Morawiec T, Rój R, Mertas A, Machorowska-Pieniążek A, Kownacki P, Tanasiewicz M, Skucha-Nowak M, Baron S, Piekarz T, Wrzoł M, Bogacz M, Kasperski J, Niedzielska I Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 06-Feb-2017
PMCID:PMC5317110
doi:10.1155/2017/4034179
PMID:28265291
Antibacterial Activity of Cinnamaldehyde and Estragole Extracted from Plant Essential Oils against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Causing Bacterial Canker Disease in Kiwifruit Song YR, Choi MS, Choi GW, Park IK, Oh CS Plant Pathol J 01-Aug-2016
PMCID:PMC4968647
doi:10.5423/PPJ.NT.01.2016.0006
PMID:27493612
The Influence of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) on Fluconazole Activity against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Strains Mertas A, Garbusińska A, Szliszka E, Jureczko A, Kowalska M, Król W Biomed Res Int 04-Feb-2015
PMCID:PMC4334616
doi:10.1155/2015/590470
PMID:25722982
Cumulative mortality of Aedes aegypti larvae treated with compounds Torres SM, da Cruz NL, Rolim VP, Cavalcanti MI, Alves LC, da Silva VA Júnior Rev Saude Publica 01-Jun-2014
PMCID:PMC4203074
doi:10.1590/S0034-8910.2014048005022
PMID:25119939
Belowground eco-restoration of a suburban waste-storage landscape: Earthworm dynamics in grassland and in a succession of woody vegetation covers Morales PK, Yunusa IA, Lugg G, Li Z, Gribben P, Eamus D Landsc Urban Plan 01-Dec-2013
PMCID:PMC4275031
doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.007
PMID:25550677
Fumigant Antifungal Activity of Myrtaceae Essential Oils and Constituents from Leptospermum petersonii against Three Aspergillus Species Kim E, Park IK Molecules 03-Sep-2012
PMCID:PMC6268886
doi:10.3390/molecules170910459
PMID:22945026
Terpinolene Varieties of<i>Melaleuca</i> Ian A. Southwell, Ian A. Stiff, Joseph J. Brophy Informa UK Limited 24-Apr-2012
doi:10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
Investigating the Host-Range of the Rust Fungus Puccinia psidii sensu lato across Tribes of the Family Myrtaceae Present in Australia Morin L, Aveyard R, Lidbetter JR, Wilson PG PLoS One 16-Apr-2012
PMCID:PMC3327671
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035434
PMID:22523596

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Branched unsaturated hydrocarbons
Gamma-Terpinene 7461 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids
Linalool 6549 Click to see 154.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
Myrcene 31253 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
P-Cymene 7463 Click to see 134.22 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids
(+-)-alpha-Pinene 6654 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
alpha Thujene 6451618 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
Beta-Pinene 14896 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
Sabinene 18818 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
2-Cyclohexen-1-ol, 3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-, (1R,6R)-rel- 85568 Click to see 154.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
4-Terpineol, (+/-)- 11230 Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)(C(C)C)O 154.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698086
alpha-PHELLANDRENE 7460 Click to see 136.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
Alpha-Terpineol 17100 Click to see 154.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
cis-Piperitol 85567 Click to see 154.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
delta-Cadinene 441005 Click to see 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1026(200009/10)15:5<352::AID-FFJ925>3.0.CO;2-R
Epicubenol 12046149 Click to see 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1026(200009/10)15:5<352::AID-FFJ925>3.0.CO;2-R
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Aromadendrane sesquiterpenoids / 5,10-cycloaromadendrane sesquiterpenoids
(1aS,4aS,7aS,7bR)-1,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylidene-2,3,4a,5,6,7,7a,7b-octahydro-1aH-cyclopropa[e]azulene 91746456 Click to see CC1CCC2C1C3C(C3(C)C)CCC2=C 204.35 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L
Viridiflorol 11996452 Click to see CC1CCC2C1C3C(C3(C)C)CCC2(C)O 222.37 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85269-L

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