Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Scented Myrtle)

Backhousia citriodora foliage and flowers

Photograph by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Backhousia citriodora foliage and flowers

Photograph by User:BotBln. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Backhousia citriodora tree

Photograph by Auckland Museum. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

PLANT FACTS

distribution map showing range of Backhousia citriodora in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License

Common Name
Lemon Scented Myrtle

Other Names
Lemon Myrtle, Lemon Scented Ironwood, Verbena Tree, Sweet Verbena Myrtle

Description
Lemon Scented Myrtle is a medium sized tree that grows to about 8 m but usually smaller. The leaves are green colour and lemon-scented. They are oval with pointed end, and grow about 5 cm to 10 cm long. New growth is reddish. Creamy white flowers are produced in large clusters in summer and autumn. The outer part of each individual flower is bell-shaped covering the fluffy stamens. The fruit is a capsule containing several small seeds.

Habitat
subtropical rainforest

Distribution
Lemon Scented Myrtle is found in eastern Queensland from around Brisbane to Mackay

Growth Characteristics
Height: 3m - 8m
Spread: 2m - 3m

Classification

Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Backhousia
Species:	citriodora
Common Name:	Lemon Scented Myrtle