melaleuca

American  

[mel-uh-loo-kuh] / ˌmɛl əˈlu kə /

noun

1. any of various chiefly Australian shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Melaleuca, of the myrtle family, including the cajeput and several species of bottlebrush.

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melaleuca British  

/ ˌmɛləˈluːkə /

noun

1. any shrub or tree of the mostly Australian myrtaceous genus Melaleuca, found in sandy or swampy regions

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Etymology

Origin of melaleuca

< New Latin (Linnaeus), irregular coinage from Greek mélā ( s ) black + leukḗ, feminine of leukós white; so called from its black trunk and white branches

Example Sentences

The chef’s kitchen and family room both open to a dining pergola complete with an alley of melaleuca trees.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2022

Clearing out rows of ornamental trees, with the assistance and support of superintendent Dennis Fowler, allows the eye to focus on the attractive remaining eucalyptus, melaleuca and Torrey pines.

From Golf Digest • May 2, 2020

They seeded the wetlands from the air with a thirsty, paper-barked Australian tree called melaleuca.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 2, 2019

Non-native species, such as the Burmese python and Australian melaleuca tree, proliferate in the park, killing or pushing out native species.

From Washington Times • Aug. 31, 2016

Clumps of melaleuca occurred at intervals, and at a distance appeared like low hills.

From Journals of Australian Explorations by Gregory, Augustus Charles