Scarlet Bottlebrush

Scientific name: Melaleuca citrina

POWO Status: Shrub or Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Not Evaluated

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.39″ N, 64° 49′ 46.72″ W

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Medicinal Uses

Melaleuca citrina (Crimson Bottlebrush) is traditionally used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties, with its essential oil (rich in 1,8-cineole) applied for skin infections, wounds, and respiratory issues, while folk remedies also target gastrointestinal problems, pain, fever, and parasitic infections, with studies showing potential for antioxidant, gastroprotective, and even antiviral/parasitic effects, although more scientific research is needed. 

Key Medicinal Uses & Properties:

  • Antimicrobial & Antiseptic: Essential oils show broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, making it useful for skin infections and promoting wound healing, similar to tea tree oil.
  • Anti-inflammatory: Traditionally used for inflammation, pain, and conditions like arthritis, with studies confirming anti-inflammatory potential in its extracts.
  • Respiratory Health: Used in traditional medicine for coughs, bronchitis, and clearing mucus due to its affinity with the respiratory system.
  • Gastrointestinal: Folk medicine uses it for dysentery and stomach ailments, and research shows promise for gastroprotective effects.
  • Parasitic & Anthelmintic: Extracts show potential against parasitic worms (helminths), offering treatment for parasitic infections.
  • Other Uses: Includes applications for fevers, rheumatism, burns, insecticidal effects, and even as an antioxidant and antiviral agent. 

Active Compounds & Applications:

  • 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol): A major component in the essential oil, contributing to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions.
  • Phloroglucinol: Found in flowers, showing antinociceptive (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Phytochemicals: Leaves, flowers, and bark contain polyphenols, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, supporting its diverse bioactivities. 

Traditional vs. Scientific Use:

  • M. citrina has a long history in traditional use, especially in Australia and India, often as a decoction or through essential oil application.
  • Modern research is validating many of these traditional uses, particularly focusing on the essential oil’s components and their effects on inflammation, bacteria, and parasites, though further study is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms.

Observations:

Phenological Markers – Melaleuca citrina

Common Name: Red Bottlebrush, Lemon Bottlebrush
Synonym: Callistemon citrinus (most commonly used horticultural name)
Scientific Name: Melaleuca citrina (Curtis) Dum.Cours.
Family: Myrtaceae

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Simple, alternate, narrow lance-shaped leaves; lemon-scented when crushed
  • Evergreen: Yes — retains foliage year-round in tropical and subtropical climates
  • Leaf Flush: New growth appears periodically, especially after flowering or pruning; young leaves may be reddish or bronze
  • Senescence: Gradual turnover of older leaves; some yellowing and drop throughout the year

Flowering

  • Inflorescence: Dense cylindrical spikes of bright red, brush-like flowers formed by masses of long stamens; flowers usually emerge at branch tips
  • Blooming Period: Spring to early summer, with intermittent blooming year-round in warm regions
  • Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and nectar-feeding birds (e.g., hummingbirds or sunbirds)
  • Phenological Indicator: Vivid red bottlebrush flower spikes at branch ends, often accompanied by new leaf flush

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Small, woody capsules clustered along stems; persistent for many months
  • Fruit Development: Capsules form soon after flowering; mature over 1–2 months
  • Dispersal: Primarily gravity; may open in response to fire or weathering
  • Phenological Indicator: Hard, round capsules visible along woody stems below flowers

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Full shrub or tree form (rounded to upright habit)
  • Close-up of bottlebrush flower spikes
  • Detail of lance-shaped leaves and new flush
  • Woody fruit capsules along stems
  • Pollinator activity (bees or birds on flowers)

Notes for Monitoring

Best phenological markers: flower spike development, new leaf flush, and persistent woody fruits

Melaleuca citrina is widely cultivated as an ornamental and is highly attractive to pollinators, making it ideal for phenology and ecological observation

Responds well to pruning, which often induces flowering and new leaf flush

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