Melaleuca preissiana

Common name: Modong

Meaning of name:

Melaleuca is from the Greek words melas, meaning black, and leucos, meaning white. It refers to the black trunk and white branches of some Asian species. Preissiana honours Johann August Ludwig Preiss (1811 – 1883) who collected in WA 1839 – 1841 upwards of 2,700 plant species.

Aboriginal Name:

Moonah.

Aboriginal Use:

The leaves were used to treat sinusitis, headaches and colds. The bark was used as bandages.

Distribution:

Occurs in the southwest of Western Australia.

Description:

A tree to 10 metres tall. The white flowers are produced from November to January.

References:

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.

Noongar Bush Medicine, Medicinal Plants of the South-west of Western Australia. Vivienne Hansen & John Horsfall. 2016

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2896656

Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5952