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The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: paperbark tree

Synonyms and Other Names: melaleuca, cajeput, paperbark tea tree, punk tree, broad-leaved paperbark (Meskimen 1962; Munger 2005; Turner et al 1997)

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Melaleuca quinquenervia is a large, wetland tree species with thick, white, peeling bark that appears “paper-like”, accounting for one of the species’ common names “paperbark tree” (Meskimen 1962; Turner et al 1997). It has epicormic trunk buds, is capable of root-sprouting, has woody fruit capsules that contain tiny seeds that disperse in the wind (Meskimen 1962; Turner et al 1997).

Leaves are broadly-lanced shaped, have 2-3 parallel veins, and are 2-3 inches long in Florida populations (Meskimen 1962). Flowers are cream-colored with petals. Melaleuca trees are often confused with Eucalyptus due to each having a long, slender leaf shape, but they can be differentiated by the presence of petals on the flowers of Melaleuca (Meskimen 1962).

Size: Up to 20m tall (Hofstetter 1991)

Native Range: Eastern Australia from Sydney north to Cape York; New Caledonia; New Guinea (Turner et al 1997)

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: All of the nearly 130 species of the genus Melaleuca are native to Australia (Meskimen 1962). Melaleuca quinquenervia occurs in low-lying, coastal wetlands with high rainfall in its native range and Florida (Turner et al 1997). The plant is limited to the tropics and subtropics and does not tolerate freezing conditions, with young trees dying in frost conditions (Hofstetter 1991). However, the plant is also known to have survived several record-breaking cold snaps in its introduced range of South Florida (Turner et al 1997).

The species is fire adapted, and appears to flourish in post-fire conditions, as fire disperses seeds, and the tree quickly regenerates after burning due to their epicormic shoots (Turner et al 1997; Hofstetter 1991). This species is very tolerant, and persists in flood and drought conditions, often thriving in flood conditions, growing rapidly, up to 2m per year (Quinn and Holt, 2008; Hofstetter 1991). The plant grows up to 20m tall in its nonnative range in the Everglades, far larger than it does in its native range (Hofstetter 1991). Melaleuca grows in dense stands, often creating monocultures, and is capable of growing new trees from fragmentation (Rayamajhi et al. 2007; Hofstetter 1991).

Means of Introduction: Melaleuca quinquenervia was imported as an ornamental plant in areas where it is introduced, including California, Hawaii, and Florida in the United States (Meskimen 1962; Turner et al 1997). Its original introduction to Florida was in 1906 in the area of Biscayne Bay, Miami, where seeds delivered from Sydney Australia were planted with the intention of stabilizing banks and absorbing flood waters to reduce the presence of mosquitos when Eucalyptus plantings failed due to intolerance of the wet conditions. Upon the success of the species' establishment in Miami, others introduced the tree to the southern gulf area of the state in the same decade (Meskimen 1962).

Status: Established in south Florida, including the Florida Everglades

Impact of Introduction: This species creates dense, monoculture stands, with a thick canopy that blocks light, outcompeting native species for space and resources (Jubinsky et al 1990; Rayamajhi et al. 2007). The monotypic stands that this tree creates in the Everglades threatens biodiversity and food webs, as the trees are not ideal habitat for native species (Jubinsky et al 1990).

Since it is very fire tolerant, even thriving in fire conditions, the burning of the plant creates a thick, black smoke which can impact human health and visibility in cities (Turner et al 1997).

Remarks: Early into its introduction in Florida, it was thought that the introduced Melaleuca was Melaleuca leucadendron, but it was later discovered that the introduced species was Melaleuca quinquenervia (Hofstetter 1991; Meskimen 1962).

In its native range in Australia, Melaleuca habitats are threated, and have been destroyed by deforestation for urban development and agriculture (Turner et al 1997).

Melaleuca quinquenervia is established in zones 9a and 10b of the USDA plant-hardiness zone map (Cathey, 1990), and therefore has the potential to establish in other areas in the US in the same zones, which includes the entire Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas (Turner et al 1997).

Biological controls for this species have been used in South Florida, including weevils (Rayamajhi et al 2007).

References: (click for full references)

Cathey, H.M. 1990. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. U.S. Dept. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv. Misc. Publ. No. 1475.

Hofstetter, R.H. 1991. The current status of Melaleuca quinquenervia in Southern Florida. Pages 159-176 in Center, T.D., R.F. Doren, R.L. Hofstetter, R.L. Myers, and L.D. Whiteaker, eds. Proceedings of the Symposium on Exotic Pest Plants, November 2–4, 1998, Miami, FL. NPS Natural Resources Technical Report 91/06. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Washington, DC.

Jubinsky, G., A. Leslie, and L. Ethridge. 1990.Weed Alert!. Bureau of Aquatic Plant Management, Tallahassee, FL.

Meskimen, G. F. 1962. A silvical study of the melaleuca tree in south Florida. Unpublished M.S. thesis. University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, FL.

Munger, G.T. 2005. Melaleuca quinquenervia: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Lab. https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/melqui/all.html. Accessed on 02/22/2021.

Rayamajhi, M.B., Van, T.K., Pratt, P.D., Center, T.D. and Tipping, P.W., 2007. Melaleuca quinquenervia dominated forests in Florida: analyses of natural-enemy impacts on stand dynamics. Plant Ecology, 192(1), pp.119-132.

Turner, C.E., T.D. Center, D.W. Burrows, G.R and Buckingham. 1997. Ecology and management of Melaleuca quinquenervia, an invader of wetlands in Florida, USA. Wetlands Ecology and Management 5(3):165-178.

Other Resources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Melaleuca quinquenervia

Author: Morningstar, C.R.

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.