Manuka , Leptospermum scoparium
Flower/Plant : Manuka( Leptospermum scoparium)
Origin: Australia and New Zealand
Plant Type : Myrtaceae
Season: Manuka's flowering season lasts only 2-6 weeks, peaking in mid-December
About :
An evergreen shrub or small tree with white, occasionally pink flowers and small, rigid leaves that have a sharp tip. The fruit are woody capsules that appear on the plant all year round.
Plant uses
Beauty and cosmetics
Extracts from the leaves of manuka are used in cosmetics to improve skin by decreasing flakiness and protecting against UV damage and skin ageing.
In hair care products, the extracts are reported to help hydrate, repair, and strengthen hair.
Food and drink
Manuka honey is produced by bees that pollinate flowers of the manuka plant. It has a thick texture and rich flavour.
The leaves of the manuka plant can be brewed to make a tea.
The Maori (Māori) people of New Zealand (Aotearoa) have traditionally eaten a sweet gum-like substance from the branches of the manuka (mānuka) plant.
Health
Maori people have used the manuka plant for its medicinal properties for generations.
Essential oil extracted from manuka leaves is used to provide some antibacterial activity. The oil is also reported to sooth itchy skin.
Materials and fuels
Maori people have used young manuka plants to make crayfish pots and eel baskets.
The hard, red wood of manuka was also widely used by Maori people to make paddles, weapons, tools and build houses, and the bark was used to make water containers and a waterproof layer for roofing.
Source :
Reference
Ashish Kumar Singh
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