<< Previous Next >>

Leptospermum scoparium


Leptospermum scoparium
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1449 W: 146 N: 3764] (12035)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-01-28
Categories: Trees
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-04-16 3:53
Viewed: 954
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species: L. scoparium
Binomial name
Leptospermum scoparium
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka or Tea tree or just Leptospermum) is a shrub or small tree native to New Zealand and southeast Australia. It is found throughout New Zealand but is particularly common on the drier east coasts of the North Island and the South Island, and in Australia in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Manuka (from Māori 'mānuka') is the name used in New Zealand, and 'tea tree' is a common name in Australia and to a lesser extent also in New Zealand. This name arose because Captain Cook used the leaves to make a 'tea' drink.The common name "Tea Tree" is also shared with the related Melaleuca tree of Australia suggesting that both were used to make tea by Captain Cook.

Growth
It is a prolific scrub-type tree and is often one of the first species to regenerate on cleared land. It is typically a shrub growing to 2-5 m tall, but can grow into a moderately sized tree, up to 15 m or so in height. It is evergreen, with dense branching and small leaves 7-20 mm long and 2-6 mm broad, with a short spine tip. The flowers are white, occasionally pink, 8-15 mm (rarely up to 25 mm) diameter, with five petals. This species is often confused with the closely related species Kānuka - the easiest way to tell the difference between the two species in the field is to feel their foliage - Manuka leaves are prickly while Kanuka leaves are soft. The wood is tough and hard, and was often used for tool handles. Manuka sawdust imparts a delicious flavour when used for smoking meats and fish.

Medical and health benefits
Manuka products have high antibacterial potency for a limited spectrum of bacteria and are widely available in New Zealand. Similar properties led the Māori to use parts of the plant as natural medicine.

Kakariki parakeets (Cyanoramphus) use the leaves and bark of Manuka and Kanuka to rid themselves of parasites. Apart from ingesting the material, they also chew it, mix it with preen gland oil and apply it to their feathers.

Manuka honey, produced when honeybees gather the nectar from its flowers, is distinctively flavoured, darker and richer in taste than clover honey and has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. The finest quality Manuka honey with the most potent antimicrobial properties is produced from hives placed in wild, uncultivated areas with abundant growth of Manuka bushes. However a very limited number of scientific studies have been performed to verify its efficacy.

The University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand has formed the Waikato Honey Research Unit to study the composition of honey and its antimicrobial activity. The Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) is the industry association that promotes and standardizes the production of Manuka honey for medical uses. They have created the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) standard which grades honey based on its anti-bacterial strength. In January 2008 Professor Thomas Henle, University of Dresden (Germany) identified Methylglyoxal as the active compound in Manuka honey. This is now shown on products as MGO Manuka honey. E.g. MGO 100 represents 100mg of Methylglyoxal per kilogram.

(from Wikipedia)
avibram, boreocypriensis, ramthakur, Pitoncle has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Nice control of the whites and showing the flower to its maximum in the setting

Namastay Steve,
A nice capture of these beautiful tea tree flowers. Very well composed with good details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
Hara

hello Steve nice composition great details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

Hello Steve, nice picture of this tiny little white flowers. Good amount of exposure here to keep a good contrast. Good POV. I think lighting wise its little off-the direction of light. I see the light falling behind the flowers. Probably you could've tried capturing the flowers behind this one. Also a bit more shallow depth here would've made the subject stand out even more.

Hi Steve,
A wonderful macro capture of these Manuka flowers from nice POV, details and fine composition. Great notes too.
TFS and Have a nice new day!
Bayram

The flowers of this tree have a character to them, Steve.
I suppose it is the contrast in colours between the core and the petals. It makes a lovely combination.
You have composed the shot well with three flowers in perfect focus.
Well done and thanks for sharing the picture.
Ram

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-04-19 2:57]

Hi Steve,
lovely capture of this beautiful whit petals. i like the arrangemnt in a very stylish order and the yellow inner staments are very pretty. The backlight is very beautiful and effective.

regards,
Foozi

Bonjour Steve,
La publication est bien composée avec des sujets bien mis en valeur par la finesse de leurs détails mais la lumière ne semble pas très bien maitrisée.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF