Common Name:

General Information

Baeckea frutescens is an evergreen, heather-like shrub or small tree growing up to 8 metres tall[]. Growing near the sea or in sheltered locations on mountains, Baeckea frutescens becomes a small tree with switchy twigs, resembling Casuarina spp. On exposed peaty soils and rocky mountain tops, it grows as a dwarf shrub like a heather, with a gnarled woody stem and branches flattened against the soil surface[].
The leaves are harvested for their medicinal uses and to make a refreshing tea and are traded in some areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia.

Habitat

Poor sandy and ultrabasic soils, in shrubland, often at high altitudes[]. It is also present in seasonally wet savannah and swamp forest[]. Thickets, slopes, low hills and open grasslands in southern China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Edible Uses

The flowers and leaves are made into a herbal tea[]. Refreshing[]. It is traditionally associated with health drinks and powders used during childbirth[].

Medicinal

Baeckea frutescens has a long history of use in traditional medicine in southeast Asia. There have been a number of studies that have demonstrated the presence of medically active compounds in the plant.
All aerial parts of the plant are credited with antibacterial, antifebrile and haemostatic properties[, ]. The plant is indicated in the treatment of coryza, influenza, headache, measles, colic and jaundice, in the form of a fumigation of the dried plant or the inhalation of vapour from a boiling decoction of the fresh plant[, ]. It is also prescribed against epistaxis, impetigo, dyspepsia, dysentery and menstrual disorders[]. In Hong Kong the aerial parts are used to treat snakebite[].
The plant is applied topically as an antiseptic in treating furunculosis and impetigo[].
The leaves are used as an emmenagogue[].

An essential oil obtained from the plant is used for massage in cases of rheumatism[].
The essential oil shows considerable variation in composition and relevant percentage of its constituents depending on where it has grown[].

In a simple in vitro enzyme assay, the essential oil of Baeckea frutescens showed strong inhibitory activity of more than 80% at 0.1 mg/ml against lipoxygenase[]. The essential oil at a dose of 435 mg/kg exhibited antihepatotoxic activity[].
The leaves and above ground parts contain series of chromones, chromanones, as well as chromone-C-glycosides. These are structurally strongly related to the flavones. Some of these chromones have show strong cytotoxic activity against leukaemia cells[].

Other Uses

The whole plant yields 0.76% essential oil, the main ingredients comprising cineol, pinene, linalol and limonene[].
The leaves are occasionally put among clothing to keep insects away[].

The branches are used as brooms[].

The timber is hard, dark brown and very durable but of small dimensions[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow onto a moist medium, standing the seed tray in almost half its depth of clean water and maintain a temperature around 16 - 18c[]. Seeds germinate in 52 - 66 days[], but seedlings take about 12 months to develop fully. When seedlings are about 5mm tall, remove the tray from the water, leave for 4 - 5 days and then prick the seedlings out into individual containers[].
Cuttings of semi-ripe wood with a heel[].

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