Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake

Family: Myrtaceae

Common names:  broadleaf paperbark, punk tree, melaleuca

Disseminule:  Seed

Description

Fruit a capsule containing 200-300 seeds. Seeds angled, outline variable but most commonly narrowly triangular, 0.6-1.2 mm long, 0.2-0.3 mm wide, 0.1-0.3 mm thick, with ends usually truncate; cross section 4-5 sided. Testa glossy, straw-colored to brown, often brown-speckled, minutely granular. Hilum inconspicuous. Embryo spatulate; endosperm absent.

Identification remarks

Compare with:

Melaleuca leucadendra (L.) L.

Melaleuca hypericifolia Sm.

Melaleuca ericifolia Sm.

Distribution

Native to Australia, New Caledonia, and New Guinea. Introduced to United States.

Habitat

Prefers wet, swampy ground but also grows on uplands. Tolerates flooding.

General information

Melaleuca quinquenervia is an evergreen tree 25-33 m tall. Seeds of M. quinquenervia were broadcast by airplane in Florida in the 1930s in an attempt to dry up the Everglades. As a result, the species is now a major threat to the Everglades and other wetlands in South Florida. The tree spreads rapidly, is fire adapted, and releases massive quantities of seed only upon disturbance such as fire, frost or pruning. Its tiny seeds are wind or water borne.

Seeds

Seeds, detail

Melaleuca leucadendra

Melaleuca hypericifolia

Melaleuca ericifolia

A, Seed; B, longitudinal section of seed showing embryo; C, transection of seed

drawing by Lynda E. Chandler

Seeds

Seeds