| Botanical Name: Backhousia citriodora (Myrtaceae) |  Image - Backhousia citriodora - foliage & flowers - Derek Boddington © 2002. |
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| Common Name: Lemon ironwood, lemon myrtle, lemon-scented myrtle, sweet verbena tree. | ||
| Distribution: Occurs naturally in the Queensland coastal forests from Brisbane to Mackay. | ||
| Habitat: Sub-tropical rainforest, littoral rainforest and riverine scrub | ||
| Form: Shrub or bushy tree, 3-8m, although some specimens grow up to 15m. Foliage often sweeps the ground. | ||
| Leaves: Leaves are simple, opposite, with leaf margins entire or crenate, slightly rolled over. The blade is dull, dark green above and pale and softly hairy below. The leaves are elliptical to narrow-elliptical, bluntly or shortly pointed at apex, 7-10 cm long. | ||
| Flower: Creamy white, in terminal, umbel-like clusters occurring December to March. | ||
| Fruit: Fruit is a capsule, brownish, dry with persistent sepals. Fruit is ripe from March to May. | ||
| Garden Use: While it prefers well-drained soil, plenty of water and freedom from severe frost, this small, densely foliaged rainforest tree makes an excellent screening or specimen plant. The species is very attractive when covered in blooms and the leaves and fruit are delightfully lemon-scented when crushed. Backhousia citriodora has great potential for use in domestic gardens for its aesthetic value and fragrance. It is easily maintained and in addition can be used as a container plant for indoors. | ||
| Edible?: No. | ||
| Propagation: Can be propagated from either seeds or cuttings. However many cultivated plants do not bear viable seed. | ||
| Comments: Lemon myrtle leaves are often used to flavour poultry or sea-food: Just one or two leaves give a special touch to baked chicken. Furthermore, lemon myrtle is popular for herbed vinegar, mayonnaise and vinaigrettes. The wonderful tangy aroma of Lemon myrtle is used in Australian bush cuisine, perfumery and aromatherapy applications. Reminiscent of lemon and of the true Melissa oil, it is an excellent blending oil with long-lasting characteristics. | ||
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Description - Blair Bartholomew |
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