MELALEUCA
Scientific name: Melaleuca Quinquenervia
Family: Myrtaceae/myrtle
Origin: Australia
Description:
Evergreen tree can grow to one hundred feet tall; has whitish papery bark compiled of many layers. Leaves are four inches long and 3/4 inch wide, alternate, grayish to green, narrow, lance shape; when crushed have strong camphor smell. Flowers are creamy white spikes (similar to bottlebrush) found at branch tips. Fruit is a round woody capsule about 3/8 inch wide; grows in clusters around branch tips.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs in a variety of habitats, including pine flat woods, cypress swamp, and marshes. Prefers seasonally wet sites, but also grows in standing water and well-drained sites. Growth rate is extremely fast, producing dense stands that replace native plants and reduce animal habitat. A mature tree can produce up to twenty million seeds per year, and can hold live seeds for a massive one time release when stressed.
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