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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/mequ1.htm PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Melaleuca quinquenervia]
*[http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/mequ1.htm PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Melaleuca quinquenervia]
* [http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/melaleuca.shtml Species Profile- Melaleuca (''Melaleuca quinquenervia'')], National Invasive Species Information Center, [[United States National Agricultural Library]]. Lists general information and resources for Melaleuca.


[[Category:Melaleuca|quinquenervia]]
[[Category:Melaleuca|quinquenervia]]

Revision as of 15:22, 16 February 2011

Broad-leaved paperbark
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Myrtales
Family:
Myrtaceae
Subfamily:
Myrtoideae
Tribe:
Melaleuceae[1]
Genus:
Melaleuca
Species:
M. quinquenervia
Binomial name
Melaleuca quinquenervia

Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as Niaouli or Broad-leaved paper bark or the Paper Bark Tea Tree, a small to medium sized tree of the allspice family, Myrtaceae. The plant is native to New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and coastal Eastern Australia, from Botany Bay in New South Wales northwards, into Queensland and the Northern Territory.[2] It has become naturalised in the Everglades in Florida where it is considered a serious weed.

The broad-leaved paperbark grows as a spreading tree up to 20 m high, with the trunk covered by a white, beige and grey thick papery bark. The grey-green leaves are ovate and the cream or white bottlebrush-like flowers appear from late spring to autumn.

Taxonomy

Melaleuca quinquenervia was first described by the Spanish naturalist Antonio José Cavanilles, with Stanley Thatcher Blake of the Queensland Herbarium later validating. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek melanos 'black' and leukos 'white' (this references the trunks of other plants of this species). The specific epithet is derived from the Latin quinque 'five', and nervus 'nerve' or 'vein' – referring to the leaves. It is commonly known as the Broad-leaved Paperbark, or simply Paperbark in Australia, and as Punk Tree in the United States.[3] It is known as niaouli in New Caledonia.

Description

Melaleuca quinquenervia grows from 8–20 m (25–60 ft) high with a spread of 5–10 m (15–30 ft), with thick white and beige papery bark. Arranged alternately, the leathery dull- or grey-green leaves are 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long by 0.5–2.5 cm (¼–1 in) wide, and ovate to obovate in shape. Flowering occurs from spring to early autumn, September to March in Australia. The white or cream flowers are arranged in cylindrical brushes some 4–8 cm (2–3 in) long and 2–3 cm (1 in) wide borne at or near the end of branchlets. They are followed by small woody seed pods containing many tiny seeds which are released annually.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The species grows in seasonally inundated plains and swampland in Australia, and can tolerate fires, and seasonal waterlogging.

Ecology

The flowers serve as a rich source of nectar for other organisms, including fruit bats, a wide range of insect and bird species,[3] such as the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus).[4] The Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Little Red Flying-fox (P. scapulatus) consume the flowers.[5]

Uses and cultivation

Melaleuca quinquenervia has multiple uses, and is widely used traditionally by indigenous Australians. A brew was made from the bruised young aromatic leaves to treat colds, headaches and general sickness.[6] The steam distilled leaf oil of the cineole chemotype is also used externally for coughs, colds, neuralgia, and rheumatism.[7] A nerolidol and linalool chemotype is also cultivated and distilled on a small scale for use in perfumery.

The paper-like bark is used traditionally for making coolamons, shelter, wrapping baked food and lining ground ovens.[3] The nectar is extracted traditionally by washing in coolamons of water which is subsequently consumed as a beverage. The scented flower also produces a light to dark amber honey depending on the district. It is strongly flavoured and candies readily and is not regarded as a high quality honey, but nevertheless is popular.[8]

The timber is tolerant of being soaked, and is used in fences.[9]

Melaleuca quinquenervia is often used as a street tree or planted in public parks and gardens, especially in Sydney.[10] In its native Australia, it is excellent as a windbreak, screening tree and food source for a wide range of local insect and bird species.[3][11] It can tolerate waterlogged soils.[9] Unfortunately, it has become an invasive weed in Florida where it was introduced to drain swamps.

The essential oil of Melaleuca quinquenervia, usually labeled as Niaouli, is used in a variety of cosmetic products especially in Australia, including Frais Hand Sanitizer. Niaouli is reported in herbalism and natural medicine to work as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent, to help with bladder infections, respiratory troubles and catarrh. Niaouli has a very low (level 0) hazard score on the Cosmetic Safety Basebase. [1]

Invasive potential

Melaleuca is an abundant exotic invasive plant in the Florida Everglades.[12] Its unchecked expansion in South Florida is one of the most serious threats to the integrity of the native ecosystem.[13] This tree takes over sawgrass marshes in the Everglades turning the area into a swamp.[14] Melaleuca causes severe ecological impacts, including displacing native species, modification of hydrology, alteration of soil resources, reducing native habitat value and changing the fire regime.[15]

An experiment comparing the quantity of seeds held in the canopies of Melaleuca trees in Australia and Southern Florida found that the viability and amount of seeds found in Australia were lower when compared to those in Florida.[16] Australian Melaleuca trees held 5,000 seeds with less than 20 viable, and Florida Melaleucas contained 13,000 seeds, with greater than 1,200 viable.[16] So without a predator reducing the amount of reproductive structures in Melaleuca it can reproduce unchecked.

The release from natural enemies will cause the invasive exotic plant to evolve, improving its performance in the new area.[17] This idea is supported by the results of a study on Melaleuca done by Pratt et al. (2005) showing that damage by herbivores reduced success in the following season as the reproductive structures declined by 80% with 54% less fruits.

Melaleuca is known for its capability to withstand floods and droughts.[12] If there is a canopy gap created by a flood or some other disturbance Melaleuca will establish to make use of the extra light.[14] In physically disturbed sites, flourishing invaders have high colonization abilities.[18] For example, Melaleuca is constantly thinning itself of small branches and twigs and this causes many seeds to fall all the time along with the litter,[19] so it is always dispersing its potential offspring. Melaleuca is also capable of living in disturbed habitats such as improved pasture, idle farmland,[15] and canal affected areas.

Recent studies comparing specific leaf area of invasive exotic plants with exotic non-invasive plants and native plants in relation to disturbances have shown that invasive have a larger specific leaf area than the other plants.[18] This allows for faster growth, these results held up by many supporting studies have allowed Lake and Leishman to infer that invasive species are so successful because of their skill for fast growth, and greater capacity to capture and retain space. Melaleuca has definitely been shown to have these traits, such as, in the Everglades the Melaleuca population has increased 50-fold during the last 25 years.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Melaleuca quinquenervia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-12-14. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  2. ^ Harden G (1991). "Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake". Plantnet. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e Eliot RW, Jones DL, Blake T (1993). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation:Volume 6 - K-M. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 359. ISBN 0-85091-589-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Lepschi BJ (1993). "Food of some birds in eastern New South Wales: additions to Barker & Vestjens". Emu. 93: 195–99. doi:10.1071/MU9930195.
  5. ^ Eby P (1995). The biology and management of flying foxes in NSW. Hurstville, NSW: National Parks & Wildlife Service.
  6. ^ Maiden, J.H., The Forest Flora of New South Wales, vol. 1, Government Printer, Sydney, 1904.
  7. ^ Blake, S.T., Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium, No.1, 1968.
  8. ^ Cribb, A.B. & J.W., Useful Wild Plants in Australia, Collins 1982, p. 23, ISBN 0-006363-97-0
  9. ^ a b Halliday, Ivan (1989). A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Melbourne: Hamlyn Australia. p. 262. ISBN 0-947334-08-4.
  10. ^ Halliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas: A Field and Garden Guide. Sydney: New Holland Press. p. 238. ISBN 1-876334-98-3.
  11. ^ Elliot, Rodger (1994). Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 58. ISBN 0-85091-628-3.
  12. ^ a b Serbesoff-King, K. 2003. Melaleuca in Florida: A literature review on the taxonomy, distribution, biology, ecology, economic importance and control measures. 2003. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 41:98–112.
  13. ^ Laroche FB, Ferriter AP (1992). "The rate of expansion of Melaleuca in South Florida". Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 30: 62–65.
  14. ^ a b Zedler, J. B. and Suzanne Kercher. 2004. Causes and consequences of invasive plants in wetlands: Opportunities, opportunists, and outcomes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 23:431–52
  15. ^ a b c Mazzotti, FJ, Center TD, Dray FA, Thayer D (1997). "Ecological consequences of invasion by Melaleuca quinquenervia in south Florida wetlands: Paradise damaged, not lost". University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service Bulletin (SS-WEC-123): 1–5.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ a b Rayamajhi, M. B., Van T. K., Center, T. D., Goolsby, J. A., Pratt, P. D., and Racelis A. 2002. Biological attributes of the canopy-held Melaleuca seeds in Australia and Florida, US. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 40: 87–91.
  17. ^ Hierro JL, Maron JL, Callaway RM (2005). "A biogeographical approach to plant invasions: the importance of studying exotics in their introduced and native range". Journal of Ecology. 93 (1): 5–15. doi:10.1111/j.0022-0477.2004.00953.x.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ a b Lake JC, Leishman MR (2004). "Invasion success of exotic plants in natural ecosystems: the role of disturbance, plant attributes and freedom from herbivores". Biological Conservation. 117: 215–26. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00294-5.
  19. ^ Van, T. K., Rayachhetry, M. B., Center, T. D., and Pratt, P. D. 2002. Litter dynamics and phenology of Melaleuca quinquenervia in South Florida. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 40: 22–27.

1. Grovely Institute of TAFE Brisbane

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