follows that although nearly all melaeucas are found only in Australia, the first type specimen was from Indonesia. The specific epithet (leucadendra) is derived from the Ancient Greek words λευκός (leukós) meaning “white” and δένδρον (déndron) meaning “tree” referring to the white bark of this plant. Melaleuca leucadendra is superficially similar to other paperbark trees, especially Melaleuca cajuputi, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Melaleuca linariifolia and Melaleuca viridiflora and all are sometimes referred to as cajuput or cajeput. Cajuput is an English word for the oil obtained from the foliage of Melaleuca cajuputi and the word is possibly a corruption of kayu putih, the Indonesian name for the tree. The Malay name for the paperbark tree is gelam and may have given its name to the Kampong Glam district in Singapore. Distribution and habitat This melaleuca is widely distributed in northern parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and in Queensland as far south as Shoalwater Bay. It also occurs in New Guinea and Indonesia. It grows in forests near the edges of rivers and streams on a range of soils. Uses Traditional uses Aboriginal people used strips of bark from this tree and tied them to a frame of Dodonaea branches to build huts that were waterproof. The bark was used to wrap food before cooking in an underground oven called a kap mari. It was also used to wrap the bodies of their dead. The bark from trunks of very large trees was used to make bark canoes. The crushed leaves were used to treat respiratory infections and the flowers for making a sweet drink. Horticulture This species of melaleuca is often grown in parks and as a street tree in tropical and sub-tropical areas like Brisbane and as far south as Sydney. It prefers a sunny location but will tolerate poor, waterlogged soils. It has also been used as a street tree in Hong Kong. Essential oils A range of essential oils can be distilled from this species, depending on where the trees occur. Two of the most common chemotypes are based on methyl eugenol and E-methyl isoeugenol. Timber The timber from M. leucadendra can be used for general construction. In Vietnam, it is used for poles, piles and woodchips. References leucadendra Trees of Australia Myrtales of Australia Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of Queensland Flora of Western Australia Flora of New Guinea Garden plants of Australia Drought-tolerant trees