Melaleuca quinquenervia
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| Broad-leaved paperbark | ||||||||||||||
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| Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake |
Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as the Broad-leaved paper bark or the Paper Bark Tea Tree, is a tree of the Myrtaceae family native to Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia. It has become naturalised in the Everglades in Florida where it is considered a serious weed. It is used in Australia as a street tree and in amenities planting in parks and public spaces.
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[edit] 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.[1] It is known as niaouli in New Caledonia.
[edit] Description
Melaleuca quinquenervia can grow to a large tree 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.[1]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
It is usually found in Wallum swampland in Australia, and can tolerate seasonal inundation and fires, and water logging. The plant is native to Australia, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural Australian distribution is coastal New South Wales from Botany Bay northwards, into Queensland and the Northern Territory.[2]
[edit] Ecology
The flowers serve as a rich source of nectar for other organisms, including fruit bats, a wide range of insect and bird species,[1] such as the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus).[3] The Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Little Red Flying-fox (P. scapulatus) consume the flowers.[4]
[edit] Invasive potential
Melaleuca is an abundant exotic invasive plant in the Florida Everglades 7. Its unchecked expansion in South Florida is one of the most serious threats to the integrity of the native ecosystem.[5] This tree takes over sawgrass marshes in the Everglades turning the area into a swamp 9. 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.[6]
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 6. 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 6. 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.[7] 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 7. If there is a canopy gap created by a flood or some other disturbance Melaleuca will establish to make use of the extra light 9. In physically disturbed sites, flourishing invaders have high colonization abilities.[8] 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 8, so it is always dispersing its potential offspring. Melaleuca is also capable of living in disturbed habitats such as improved pasture, idle farmland,[6] 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.[8] 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.[6]
[edit] Cultivation
Melaleuca quinquenervia is often used as a street tree or planted in public parks and gardens, especially in Sydney.[9] 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.[10][1] It can tolerate waterlogged soils.[11] Unfortunately, it has become an invasive weed in Florida where it was introduced to drain swamps.
The bark was used to make containers for cooking, as well as shelter, by local aborigines.[1] The timber is tolerant of being soaked, and is used in fences.[11]
[edit] See also
- Invasive plants of Australian origin
- Invasive species
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
- National Wetlands Research Center
[edit] References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harden G (1991). Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake. Plantnet. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved on 2008-05-05.
- ^ Lepschi BJ (1993). "Food of some birds in eastern New South Wales: additions to Barker & Vestjens.". Emu 93: 195-99.
- ^ Eby P (1995). The biology and management of flying foxes in NSW. Hurstville, NSW: National Parks & Wildlife Service.
- ^ Laroche FB, Ferriter AP (1992). "The rate of expansion of Melaleuca in South Florida". Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 30: 62-65.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Halliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas: A Field and Garden Guide. Sydney: New Holland Press, p. 238. ISBN 1-876334-98-3.
- ^ Elliot, Rodger (1994). Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. Melbourne: Lothian Press, p. 58. ISBN 0-85091-628-3.
- ^ a b Halliday, Ivan (1989). A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Melbourne: Hamlyn Australia, p. 262. ISBN 0-947334-08-4.
1. Grovely Institute of TAFE Brisbane
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Zedler, J. B. and Suzanne Kercher. 2004. Causes and consequences of invasive plants in wetlands: Opportunities, opportunists, and outcomes. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 23:431-452.
