Common Name: Cajaput

General Information

Melaleuca cajuputi is an evergreen shrub or, more usually, a single-stemmed tree with a fairly dense and wide crown that is somewhat silvery in appearance; it usually grows up to 25 metres tall with occasional specimens to 40 metres[]. The bole is often twisted and poorly formed, but straight and cylindrical boles have also been reported[]. The tree has an extensive root system, sometimes with aerial adventitious roots[].
The tree has been cultivated for several centuries, mainly in Indonesia and Vietnam, for the leaves and twigs which are used medicinally and as a source of essential oil[, ]. The essential oil is traded internationally[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia to Australia.

Habitat

In open, savannah like vegetations and coastal swamps at elevations up to 100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of hot, moist, lowland tropical areas, found at elevations from sea level 150 metres, with occasional specimens to 400 metres[]. It grows in areas where the mean temperature is in the range 17 - 33°c, and the mean annual rainfall is 1,300 - 1,750 mm with a strong, monsoonal pattern[].
Grows in a wide range of conditions, but most stands are found on low swampy coastal plains, sometimes immediately behind mangroves that may be flooded to a depth of over one metre during the wet season[]. The soils are often highly organic alluvial clays with poor drainage and very low fertility, and may be potentially acid sulphate[]. Plants can succeed in very acid conditions with a pH of 4 or less, but grow better in richer soils with a higher pH[]. Tolerates exposure to salt-laden winds[].
A long-lived, moderately fast-growing tree[].
Plants are resistant to fire[].
Young trees set their first flower buds when only 13 - 14 months old[]. In some areas of the tropics the plant flowers all year round, in other areas it is more seasonal[].

Edible Uses

The essential oil is used as a flavouring in food[].

Medicinal

The leaves possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anodyne properties[]. They are used traditionally against pain, burns, colds, influenza and dyspepsia[].

Cajaput oil is an essential oil produced from the leaves by steam distillation. The oil is a sedative and relaxant and is useful in treating worms, particularly roundworm, and infections of the genito-urinary system[, ]. The oil is a common household medicine, especially in South-East Asia, used internally for the treatment of coughs and colds, against stomach cramps, colic and asthma[].
It is used externally for the relief of neuralgia and rheumatism, often in the form of ointments and liniments, and for the relief of toothache and earache. It is also applied in treating indolent tumours[].

The essential oil usually contains substantial amounts of 1,8-cineole (3 - 60%), and the sesquiterpene alcohols globulol, viridiflorol and spathulenol. Other compounds present, usually in quantifiable amounts, are limonene, 'BETA'-caryophyllene, 'ALFA'-humulene, viridiflorene, 'ALFA'-terpineol, 'ALFA'- and 'BETA'-selinene and caryophyllene oxide[]. Cajeput oil is mainly a pale yellow mobile liquid sometimes with a greenish-bluish tint. The green-blue coloration may be a function of the presence of azulene compounds in the fractions of the oil that have a higher boiling point, but has also been attributed to chlorophyll or small amounts of copper in the oil[]. The green colour mostly disappears in storage. Some cajeput oils with significant amounts of eudesmol isomers solidify into a whitish paste after extraction. The odour of commercial oils is rather penetrating, with a camphoraceous-medicinal aroma, similar to cineole-rich eucalypt oil but milder and more fruity[]. The almost fruity-sweet body notes and the soft tones in the dry-out are very characteristic. The taste is aromatic; the initial burning sensation on the tongue is followed by a cooling sensation[]. Cajeput oil is classified as non-toxic and non-sensitizing, although skin irritation may occur at high concentrations[]. It has been approved for food use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Cajaput makes an excellent shade and shelter tree[]. It is one of the few trees that can be grown successfully to reforest exposed locations on brackish soils and acid sulphate soils[].
The tree often plays an important role in estuarine environments where it provides habitat for birds, fish and shrimps[].

Other Uses

The leaves contain 0.4 - 1.2% essential oil[]. This oil is very rich in cineole[]. It is used as a fragrance and freshening agent in soaps, cosmetics, detergents and perfumes[].
The essential oil is reputed to have insect-repellent properties[]. It is used as an insecticide[].

The soft bark is used for caulking and as a packing material, in boat building, filling mattresses or pillows and for insulation[, ].
The bark is inflammable and can be used as torches[].

The heartwood is pinkish-grey to brown; it merges gradually into the yellowish sapwood. The texture is fine and even; the grain is straight or shallowly interlocked. The wood is hard, fairly heavy, durable in the ground or in water, with a high silica content of 0.2 - 0.95% which blunts saws. It requires careful seasoning because of its liability to check and warp. It is difficult to plane and mortise due to interlocking grain, but glues well and is a good jointing timber. Of limited interest for sawmilling, it is generally used in the round or roughly fashioned and is suitable for posts, poles and piles[, , ]. When carefully seasoned it is suitable for general construction and flooring, and can also be employed for ship-construction, carpentry and turnery[, ].
The wood makes a good fuel wood[].

Propagation

Seed - does not require pre-treatment[]. In the nursery, seeds are sown in seedbeds and covered with a very thin layer of soil, or mixed with sand and spread on top of the seedbed[]. The seeds are very light sensitive and will not germinate or grow in shade[]. Germination is usually only 30 - 40% due to many empty seeds. The tiny seedlings are sensitive to desiccation and to strong watering, both artificially and by heavy direct rain. After germination seedlings are transplanted into pots, nursery period is from 3 - 6 months[].
Cuttings are easy[].

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