South Sea Myrtle
| South Sea Myrtle | ||||||||||||
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Leptospermum scoparium , flower |
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| Leptospermum scoparium | ||||||||||||
| JR Forest. & G.Forst. |
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The South Sea myrtle ( Leptospermum scoparium ), also called New Zealand myrtle or Manuka (from Māori : Mānuka ), is a species of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). It is native to the mountainous regions of New Zealand and southeastern Australia ( New South Wales ). Manuka oil and manuka honey in particular are extracted from it.
description
The South Sea myrtle grows as a shrub or tree up to a height of 6–8 meters. The twigs and young leaves are more or less densely covered by silvery hairs, the bark of the older parts peeling off in long strips. The almost sessile , stiff, spiky, erect or horizontally protruding leaves occur in two main forms (but not on the same plant): narrow-lanceolate, elliptical or ovate with a heart-shaped base; they are 4–12 (rarely 20) mm long and 1–4 mm wide.
The mostly white or reddish flowers are usually single in the leaf axils , occasionally also at the end of branches and are short stalked to sessile. They have a broad, top-shaped flower cup with triangular, early sloping calyx tips . The spreading petals are rounded, about 6 mm long and white, rarely pink. The stamens of about 20-25, grouped stamens are much thinner than the stylus . From the upper surface hairless ovary a fünfkammerige, woody and reddish developed capsule fruit of 3-7 × 4-10 mm size that extends beyond the flower cups. The capsules contain many, about 2-3 mm long, narrow, elongated seeds. The capsules stay there for a year or more.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 22.
Leptospermum scoparium and Kunzea ericoides (Kanuka) are often confused as outwardly similar species. However, the leaves of Kunzea ericoides are soft, those of Leptospermum scoparium are stinging. The flowers, capsules and seeds of the smaller Leptospermum scoparium are larger and the capsules stay there for a year. Kanuka is also very durable.
Taxonomy / systematics
The first description was made by Johann Reinhold and George Forster in Characteres Generum Plantarum 36, 1775. Numerous synonyms are known.
Some cultivars are also distinguished.
distribution
The South Sea myrtle is native to New Zealand and southeastern Australia. In New Zealand, it grows from the lowlands to subalpine regions in various habitats, particularly open slopes, river banks, forest edges and bushes.
Like all plants of the myrtle family, the South Sea myrtle is extremely robust and requires very little nutrients to grow. However, despite great resistance, moist soil is important for the growth of the plant.
Use as a medicinal plant
In Europe, the possibility of medicinal use of the South Sea myrtle was observed by the botanist Joseph Banks , a member of the James Cooks expedition . He observed how the Maori used different components of the South Sea myrtle to treat ailments such as B. to cure gastrointestinal complaints, bladder diseases, colds, skin diseases and even wounds. For this purpose, the Maori also prepared a brew, whereupon the English colloquial name tea tree (German tea tree) arose.
The plant contains essential oils ; Manuka oil, which are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Honey collected from it has shown effects against Helicobacter pylori , against chronic wounds and skin infections in smaller studies and is marketed as a medicinal product.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Flora of New Zealand: 2 L. scoparium Forster et Forster f., Char. Gene. Pl. 72, t. 36, figs fl (1776) , accessed August 22, 2009.
- ↑ Leptospermum scoparium at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.
- ^ John Dawson, Rob Lucas: Nature guide to the New Zealand forest. Godwit, 2000, ISBN 1-86962-055-0 .
- ↑ Kanuka and Manuka at Great Barrier Island Environmental News, accessed October 29, 2018.
- ↑ Leptospermum scoparium at KEW Science, accessed on October 18, 2018.
- ↑ Plant List
- ↑ CABI
- ^ Murray Dawson: A history of Leptospermum scoparium in cultivation: Garden selections. In: New Zealand Garden Journal. Vol. 13 (1), 2010, online (PDF), accessed on October 18, 2018.
- ↑ New South Wales Flora Online: Leptospermum scoparium JRForst. & G.Forst. , accessed August 22, 2009
- ↑ Andreas Ende: Natural remedies. Manuka. Südwest 1998, ISBN 978-3-517-08032-1 , pp. 8-9 ff.
- ↑ MH Douglas, JW van Klink, BM Smallfield et al .: Essential oils from New Zealand manuka: triketone and other chemotypes of Leptospermum scoparium. In: Phytochemistry . Volume 65, Number 9, 2004, pp. 1255-1264, ISSN 0031-9422 , doi : 10.1016 / j.phytochem.2004.03.019 , PMID 15184010 .
- ^ AG Leong, PM Herst, JL Harper: Indigenous New Zealand honeys exhibit multiple anti-inflammatory activities. In: Innate immunity. [Electronic publication before printing] Oct 2011, ISSN 1753-4267 , doi : 10.1177 / 1753425911422263 , PMID 21978989 .
- ^ PE Lusby, A. Coombes, JM Wilkinson: Honey: a potent agent for wound healing? In: Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing: official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society / WOCN. Volume 29, Number 6, November 2002, pp. 295-300, ISSN 1071-5754 , PMID 12439453 (review).
literature
- Andreas Ende: Natural remedies. Manuka. Southwest, 1998, ISBN 978-3-517-08032-1 .
