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Federal Noxious Weed TDA Noxious Weed TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species Invasive Plant Atlas of the USNOTE:
means species is on that list.
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca
Synonym(s): Melaleuca leucadendron
Family: Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)
Duration and Habit: Perennial Tree
Photographer: Min B. Rayamajhi
Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Description
Melaleuca, also known as paperbark tree, punk tree, cajeput tree, and white bottlebrush tree, is a subtropical tree in the eucalyptus family, with spongy, white, paper-like bark that can grow to 50 feet in height. The 1-2 inch long, gray-green, oval leaves of paperbark tree are arranged alternately along the stem and smell of camphor when crushed. Flowers are white, brush-like spikes and the fruits are small, woody, button-like seed capsules.
Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with Melaleuca.
Ecological Threat: Paperbark tree is an aggressive invader that spreads rapidly, converting native plant communities such as sawgrass marshes, wet prairies, and aquatic sloughs into impenetrable paperbark thickets. In a single year, one paperbark tree can produce a dense island hammock nearly 600 feet in diameter. Its greatest threat is to the Florida Everglades ecosystem, which faces extreme and possibly irreversible alteration as a result of intrusion by paperbark tree and another troublesome exotic, Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius).
Biology & Spread: About three years after germination, paperbark trees begin to produce and store copius numbers of seeds in closed woody capsules. The seeds are stored until some form of stress, such as frost, fire or human- induced injury, including herbicide, causes the capsules to open. A mature tree can produce more than a million seeds per year and store an estimated 20 million. Seeds of paperbark tree are dispersed by wind and water.
History: First planted as a small forest in southern Florida in 1912, and any consequent disturbance encouraged its spread. Was often planted for landscaping and with the intent of drying up swamps.
U.S. Habitat: Requires moist soil conditions. Prefers wet or intermittently wet subtropical prairies and marshes. Once established, will invade upland pineywoods as well as hardwood bottomlands.
Distribution
U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: Trop. Asia, Australasia, & Pacific-New Caled. (Germplasm Resources Information Network); NatureServe Explorer
U.S. Present: FL, HI, LA, PR
Distribution in Texas: The distribution of paperbark tree in the U.S. is currently confined to southern Florida, where it occupies an estimated several million acres, primarily within the Florida Everglades system. While not established, has high potential for invasion in the Lower Galveston Bay watershed.
Mapping
Invaders of Texas Map: Melaleuca quinquenervia
EDDMapS: Melaleuca quinquenervia
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Melaleuca quinquenervia
Native Alternatives
Texas alternatives include Red mulberry (Morus rubra), Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), and Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana).
Management
Restoration of areas infested with paperbark tree requires a well planned, long term commitment to elimination of all paperbark trees from the site and prevention of reinfestation. The age and extent of an infestation, the availability of people and other resources, and the proximity to open water or wetlands will dictate the type of management best suited for each site. Seedlings can be pulled by hand, especially when the soil has dried out some, small to medium-sized trees can be pushed over, and larger trees may be cut. Resprouting will likely occur after cutting or hand- pulling, requiring follow-up removals or treatment with herbicide. Herbicides are usually needed for extensive infestations and mature paperbark trees and may be applied to freshly cut stumps or to girdled trunks. However, as noted previously, herbicide use will cause paperbark tree to release large caches of stored seeds. Biological control may offer some help in management of this aggressive invader. Several species of Australian snout beetles are being released or evaluated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The beetles are specific to Melaleuca and feed on its shoots, reducing the plant's ability to reproduce.
USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.Text References
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. 1991. Exotic Woody Plant Control, Ken Langeland, ed.
Mazzotti, F.J., T.D. Center, F.A. Dray, and D. Thayer. Ecological Consequences of Invasion by Melaleuca quinquenervia in South Florida Wetlands: Paradise Damaged, not Lost. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW123
Randall, J.M. and J. Marinelli. 1996. Invasive Plants: Weeds of the Global Garden. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Club, Inc., Handbook No. 149. Pp. 36
Schultz, D.P., T.W. Barnes, and J.M. Kleen. 1987. Melaleuca control at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA and Boynton Beach, FL.
Online Resources
APWG WeedUS Database
The Quiet Invasion: A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area (www.galvbayinvasives.org). Lisa Gonzalez and Jeff DallaRosa. Houston Advanced Research Center, 2006.
Search Online
Google Search: Melaleuca quinquenervia
Google Images: Melaleuca quinquenervia
NatureServe Explorer: Melaleuca quinquenervia
USDA Plants: Melaleuca quinquenervia
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States: Melaleuca quinquenervia
Bugwood Network Images: Melaleuca quinquenervia
