Cajuput, Paperbark
Melaleuca cajuputi

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 40 m high. The trunk is 35 cm across. It is often twisted. The bark is whitish or light grey. It often forms papery flaky strips. The leaves are leathery. They are sword shaped and sometimes curve to one side. They are 5-15 cm long by 1-3.8 cm wide. They have silky hairs when young. The base tapers. There are 3-7 veins arranged like fingers on a hand. The veins join at the tip. The veins are raised on both surfaces. The leaf stalk is 12 mm long. The flowers are in a spike. This is 6-17 cm long. The flowers are in clusters of 3. The top of the spike ends in a flush of new leaves after flowering. The flowers are white and have a smell. They are fluffy from the stamens. The fruit is a greyish brown capsule. It is 3 mm long. There are many very small seeds.

The leaves yield cajaput oil which is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It will grow in swampy ground. In Indonesia it grows in lowland forest often in swamps or seasonally flooded ground. It is often near the coast.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The oil from the bark is used in flavouring.

Edible parts

Bark - flavouring

How it is grown

It forms suckers. It can be grown from these suckers. Plants can also be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Hnget-kyauk, Kalan, Pohon kayu putih

Synonyms

Melaleuca lancifolia Turcz.; Melaleuca leucodendron L.;