Leptospermum javanicum

Leptospermum javanicum is a species of tree that is native to Myanmar, western and central Malesia. It has fibrous bark on the trunk, leaves that are much paler on the lower surface, relatively large white flowers and woody fruit.

Description
Leptospermum javanicum is a tree that typically grows to a height of about 6 m and has fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches. The branchlets are covered with soft hairs when young and have prominent flanges extending from the base of the leaves. The leaves are elliptical to egg-shaped, dark green on the upper surface and much paler below, 10-30 mm long, 4-9 mm wide. The flowers are white, 15-20 mm wide and are borne singly on short side branches on a pedicel up to 1 mm long. The floral cup is covered with soft, silky hairs and the edges of the sepals are densely hairy. The petals are white and the fruit is a woody capsule that is domed above, 4-5 mm long and 6-7 mm wide.

Taxonomy and naming
Leptospermum javanicum was first formally described in 1826 by Carl Ludwig Blume in his book Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indie.

Distribution and habitat
This tea-tree grows at altitudes of between 1500 and 3000 m from Myanmar to western Malesia.

Uses
Isolates from L. javanicum have shown potential as anti-cancer treatments by inducing apoptosis in lung cancer cells and distorting their ability to undergo metastasis.