Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake, Myrtaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

High risk, score: 15 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))
Reject, score: 20 (Go to the risk assessment  (U.S. (Florida)))

Other Latin names:  Metrosideros quinquenervia Cav.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: belbowrie, broadleaf paperbark, broadleaf teatree, cajeput, cajuput, coastal teatree, five-vein paperbark, melaleuca, paper bark tree, paperbark, paperbark teatree, punk tree, swamp tea tree, tea tree

French: niaouli

Other: itahou

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Trees to 20-25 m tall, bark whitish or pale brown, spongy, exfoliating.  Leaves alternate, coriaceous, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5-9 cm long, 0.8-1.5 cm wide, 3-nerved or 5-nerved, glabrous, glandular punctate, apex acute, base cuneate, petioles ca 3-8 mm long, twisted.  Flowers in cylindrical spikes ca 3-10 cm long, the axis silky pubescent; sepals broadly deltate-ovate, ca 1.2-1.5 mm long; petals cream, ca 2.5-3 mm long; stamens ca 10-15 mm long; filaments connate at base.  Fruit woody, short-cylindrical, ca 3-4 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 964).

Habitat/ecology:  "Wet forests, cypress swamps, marshes, wet grassland.  In the native range, this tree often grows in pure stands on creek banks and in swamps.  Where invasive, it rapidly colonizes freshwater wetlands and almost completely displaces the native vegetation, thereby degrading prime wildlife habitat.  The tree grows well ion poor soils, is tolerant of flooding and is a prolific seed producer.  The tree resprouts easily after damage.  Stands of this tree can carry fires into the canopies, thereby killing other tree species"  (Weber, 2003; p. 257).

In Hawai‘i, "this evergreen tree reaches heights of 12 m and invades open swampy areas. The leaves appear to have allelopathic activity, probably of a similar nature to that of other members of the Myrtaceae. Like many other members of its family, it is adapted to fire, which generally results in an intensification of the infestation.  Paperbark infests wet habitats between 100-1,000 m" (C. W. Smith, 1985; p. 194).  Naturalized in disturbed mesic forest, 30-890 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 964).

Propagation:  The seeds are dispersed by wind and water. Large numbers of seeds are stored on the tree in the fruiting capsules and are released when fire or other disturbance occurs.

Native range:  Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia; also cultivated and naturalized (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90) "Potential invader"
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced cultivated	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 116) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg 60452 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 652585) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 191)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 90) "Potential invader"
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 304) Voucher cited: DA 11562
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1958) (voucher ID: BISH 33225) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 198) Voucher cited: Florence 2523
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2523 (PAP) Cultivée. Assez rare à Tahiti.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491488) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 191)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 95)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 964)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 964)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2010) (p. 37) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer, Wood, Perlman & Bacon H10804 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 964)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 964)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 964)
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Art	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Voucher cited: MacKee 19324
New Caledonia Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)	Île Pott	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Voucher cited: MacKee 19365
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Voucher cited: MacKee 39016
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Numerous vouchers cited.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1964) (voucher ID: BISH 165389) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 401953) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 506479) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 580711) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 628934) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Voucher cited: Baumann-Bodenheim 13668, Baumann-Bodenheim 13858, Baumann-Bodenheim 13881
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Yande	native	Dawson, John Wyndham (1992) (pp. 217-222) Voucher cited: MacKee 22691
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Falanruw, Marjorie (1999) (p. Field notes.)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996) (p. 32)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced cultivated	Fosberg, F. R./Canfield, Joan E. (1980) (p. 197) Voucher cited: Canfield 687 (US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (pp. 15-16) Voucher: Lorence 9919 (PTBG, BNM, BISH, NY, US)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 689750) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1979) (voucher ID: BNM 1310) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 212) Taxon name on voucher: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 163)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 59) Cultivated only

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/naturalisé"
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Comments:  Occurs on a small area on Yap and appears to bespreading only slowly. Occasional trees seen planted on Palau don’t seem to be spreading (Space & Falanruw, 1999).

This species is a major problem in the State of Florida (U.S.) and is on the Federal noxious weed list. Planting of this species in the State of Florida (U.S.) is prohibited by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Hunsberger, 2001).

Control: 

Physical: Small seedlings can be hand-pulled. Larger trees usually require herbicide use to prevent resprouting. Follow-up control measures are needed to prevent reinvasion. Any seed capsules must be removed and destroyed.

Chemical: "In remote areas, cut stumps are treated with a wetland-approved imazapyr herbicide mixed 20 percent with water.  Trees can also be girdled with a chainsaw and the cut area treated with imazapyr diluted 50 percent with water. Basally applied herbicides are not effective"  (Randall & Marinelli, 1996).

"Frilling or cut-stump applications of imazapyr effective. In applications to drilled holes, glyphosate was very effective, dicamba and triclopyr fairly effective and 2,4-D ineffective. Saplings sensitive to foliar applications of triclopyr at 1 lb/acre"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

Biological: Biological control information from the publication "Biological control of invasive plants in the eastern United States".