CAJ'EPUT kiJA, tree pulih, white). .11cialeuca leuradendron. A tree of the order Myrtacete. front the leaves of which the pungent, aromatic. volatile oil called oil of eajeput is obtained by distillation. The tree occurs from the Malay Peninsula to Aus tralia, and is a tree 30 to 40 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, with a crooked trunk, papery hark, white wood (whence the name. eajeput elliptical. lanreolate, alternate leaves. and ter minal spikes of white flowers. The greater num ber of the species are natives of Australia, where more than a dozen well-marked species are known• some of them very beautiful shrubs and frequent ornaments of British hothouses. Thud) of the oil of cajeput of yommeree is pre pared from Melaleuea lenca4lendr4m, hut vola tile oils similar in many respect. are distilled from the leaves of many other species. A hon.
dred pounds of yield slightly less than one pound of oil. It is maietained by some that the true oil of eajeput comes only from Melaletrea minor, but that species cannot he dis tinguished botanically from Mehtlenca leueaden dron. The oil contains a number of complex eonstitutent:, as eajepntol. hydrocarbons, vari ous ethers, It is a stimulant, conoter-irri tont, diaphoretic. and antiseptic. In India it is used extol-dryly as an external application for rheumatism. The oil is rather heavy, and usually is of a greenish tinge. The wood is bard, elose-grained, and durable. especially when placed under ground. The bark is useful for packing. etc. 111 Australia these trees are known as tea-trees. Melaleuea axillaris pro duces a thin, spongy bark, that can be used for blotting and filter paper.