Scientific Name: Melaleuca quinquenervia

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  • Pronunciation:
    mel-ah-LOO-kah quin-quen-ERV-ee-ah
  • Common Name:
    Paperbarked Tea Tree, Broad-leaved Paperbark
  • Derivation:
    Melaleuca: Gr. melanos, black. Gr. leucos, white. The first species described is said to have had white branches against a black (burnt) trunk. |quinquenervia: L. quinque, five. L. nervus, nerve, vein. Five-veined. See leaf.
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    MYRTACEAE
  • Flowers:
    White, Most of the year, often in response to rainy weather. Strongly scented.
  • Fruit:
    Capsule
  • Vegetation Type:
    Sandy or gravelly areas where groundwater is close to the surface. Wallum Woodland, Also occurs at the edge of the heath and as a significant part of the wallum woodlands.
  • Species List:
    EdingtonDr, Cooroibah, Weyba Esp, Arthur Harrold NR,W2, Bush food, Bush medicine, Emu Mt., SBHS, NLTalks2010, Cooroibah Airstrip, Biosphere Day Noosa Woods, Weyba Nature Refuge, Eumarella Rd., Peregian Boardwalk, Coolum High, Pomona School Oval, Mooloolaba TAFE, Boreen Point Caravan Park, Wooroi Day Use Area Tracks, St. Teresa's, Meridan College, Pindari Steiner School, Pacific Lutheran College, Cooroibah 26.4.09, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Wooroi Palm Grove, Cooloothin Corner, Fraser Island, Mill Point, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Regional Ecosystem 12.1.1. Regional Ecosystem 12.2.5. Regional Ecosystem 12.2.7. Regional Ecosystem 12.3.4. Regional Ecosystem 12.3.5. Regional Ecosystem 12.3.6. Regional Ecosystem 12.3.11. Regional Ecosystem 12.5.2. Regional Ecosystem 12.9-10.1. Regional Ecosystem 12.9-10.4. Cranks Creek, Upper Yandina Creek, Boreen Point, Leslie Drive Roundabout Noosa North Shore PS BHNR TAFE Girraween Noosa Banks Emu Swamp Dandaloo NNS Fern Track, Kin Kin Arboretum, NNS, Wallace Park,Heritage Park,
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Essential oil.

Naturally occurring alcohol.

Insecticide.

Honey Production: extra light amber to dark amber, honey source major, pollen source major.

Bush food: Flowers sucked for nectar or dunked in water for a sweet drink.

Leaves used as tea substitute

Bark used for huts, raincoats, tinder, bedding cooking, etc.

Bush medicine: leaves chewed, crushed and sniffed for colds.

Identification Notes

Young parts silky hairy |Bottlebrush type flowers 2.5-3.5 cm wide. |Leaves mostly less than 2.5 cm wide.||

Associated Fauna

Bird attracting. Pollinated by birds and bats.

Landscaping Notes

Noosa Council Preferred Species list. Suitable plant for appropriate soil conditions (see Vegetation type) Successfully propagated by Noosa & District Landcare. |Erect tree for average to water-logged situation||Successfully propagated by Coolum Community Native Nursery.||Successfully propagated by Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery.|||Successfully propagated by Florabunda Bushcare nursery, Woombye|Successfully propagated by Mooloolah Native Nursery||Successfully propagated by Barung Landcare||