| Melaleuca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Melaleuca armillaris leaves and flowers | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Subfamily: | Myrtoideae |
| Tribe: | Melaleuceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca L. |
| Species | |
Melaleuca (/ˌmɛləˈljuːkə/) is a group of almost 300 kinds of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They are often called paperbarks, honey-myrtles, bottlebrushes, or tea-trees (though "tea-tree" is also used for some Leptospermum plants). These plants can be small bushes less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) tall or trees up to 35 m (115 ft) tall. Their flowers grow in groups that look like a brush used for cleaning bottles, with up to 80 small flowers in each group.
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Melaleucas are an important food source for insects, birds, and mammals that eat nectar. Many are popular in gardens because of their pretty flowers or because they grow thickly and can be used as fences. Some melaleucas are also useful making oils like "tea tree" oil. Most melaleucas grow only in Australia, but a few live in Malesia. Seven types grow only in New Caledonia, and one is found only on Lord Howe Island in Australia.
Melaleucas live in many different places. Many grow well in swamps and wet areas, while others live in poor sandy soil or near salty land. Some melaleucas are common and found in many places, but others are rare and in danger. Many species are threatened by land clearing, a disease called myrtle rust, and especially by draining and clearing swamps.
