Backhousia citriodora
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Backhousia citriodora (common names lemon myrtle, lemon scented myrtle, lemon scented ironwood) is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, genus Backhousia. It is endemic to subtropical rainforests of central and south-eastern Queensland, Australia, with a natural distribution from Mackay to Brisbane.[1] Other common names are sweet verbena tree, sweet verbena myrtle, lemon scented verbena, and lemon scented backhousia.
It can reach 20 m ft in height, but is often smaller. The leaves are evergreen, opposite, lanceolate, 5 - 12 cm long and 1.5 - 2.5 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The flowers are creamy-white, 5–7 mm diameter, produced in clusters at the ends of the branches from summer through to autumn, after petal fall the calyx is persistent.
Cultivation
Lemon myrtle is a cultivated ornamental plant. It can be grown from tropical to warm temperate climates, and may handle cooler districts provided it can be protected from frost when young.[1] In cultivation it rarely exceeds about 5 m ft and usually has a dense canopy. The principal attraction to gardeners is the lemon smell which perfumes both the leaves and flowers of the tree. Lemon myrtle is a hardy plant which tolerates all but the poorest drained soils.[1] It can be slow growing but responds well to slow release fertilisers.
Seedling lemon myrtle go through a shrubby, slow juvenile growth stage, before developing a dominant trunk. Lemon myrtle can also be propagated from cutting, but is slow to strike.[1] Growing cuttings from mature trees bypasses the shrubby juvenile stage. Cutting propagation is also used to provide a consistent product in commercial production.
Propagation
Cuttings or fresh seeds.
Pests and diseases
A significant fungal pathogen, myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) was detected in lemon myrtle plantations in January 2011.[2][3] Myrtle rust severely damages new growth and threatens lemon myrtle production. Controls are being developed.
Varieties
Gallery
photo 1
photo 2
photo 3
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Template:Citation
- ↑ Myrtle rust host list, NSW Primary Industries [1]
- ↑ Myrtle rust confirmed on lemon myrtle plantation, ABC Rural [2]
External links
- w:Backhousia citriodora. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Backhousia citriodora QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
