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Melaleuca quinquenervia

(Cav.) S.T.Blake (1958)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Melaleuca

cajeput tree, paperbark, punk tree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees to 20–25 m tall.

Stems: Bark whitish or pale brown, spongy, exfoliating.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5–9 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Apex acute. Base cuneate. Surfaces glabrous, glandular punctate; blades coriaceous, dull green to yellowish green. Margins entire. 3-veined or 5-veined, longitudinal. Petioles ca. 3–8 mm long, twisted. Stipules vestigial or absent.

Flowers: Flowers terminal, in cylindrical spikes ca. 3–10 cm long, the axis silky pubescent. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Hypanthium well–developed above ovary. Calyx of 5 sepals, broadly deltate–ovate, ca. 1.2–1.5 mm long, deciduous. Corolla of 5 petals, cream, ca. 2.5–3 mm long, orbicular, much longer than sepals, margins minutely ciliate. Stamens numerous ca. 10–15 mm long, long–exserted, connate basally into 5 bundles opposite the petals; filaments connate at base, the connate part of filaments flattened; anthers dithecal. Ovary inferior, depressed around style, 3-celled; ovules numerous placentation; style terminal, simple.

Fruit: Fruit woody by the accrescent hypanthium; which is adnate to and encloses the 3–valved; loculicidal capsules; short–cylindrical; ca. 3–4 mm long; 4–5 mm in diameter; flat–topped.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat: Disturbed mesic forest.

Elevation Range: 30–890 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 69: 76 (1958)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:964 (K, O, Mo, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:425 (KEY, DESCR); Oppenheimer 2010:37 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Melaleuca quinquenervia Wailua Game Reserve, above Wailua Vegetation on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60. Base ore, no overburden or soil treatment. Preserved_Specimen Stunted plants, 1.5m, flowers white. Howard, R.A. 20239 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
2 Melaleuca quinquenervia Nr. Bank of Hawaii, Wahiawa Slope: 0%. Soil: silty loam. Preserved_Specimen Vegetation type: Tree to 20 ft. Lanceolate leaves, capsules on stems. Distribution: common tree in yards. Paper-like bark peels easily. Afualo, D. 35 Oahu BISH 1975-03-08
3 Melaleuca quinquenervia Nuuanu Pali Park, Hwy. 61 forest plantation Preserved_Specimen tree to 15 m; bark papery Annable, C.R. 3099 Oahu BISH 1996-10-31
4 Melaleuca quinquenervia U.H. Campus, East-West Rd In full sun. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m tall. Stamens and pistil white. Flower not fragrant (afternoon). Lau, J. 1256 Oahu BISH 1985-07-24
5 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Green Valley High pasture, near flumes, 8ft slope, rocky clay soil. Vegetation type: grass. Preserved_Specimen Tree 20ft, peeling paper bark. Javilla, J. 13 Oahu BISH 1975-04-04
6 Melaleuca quinquenervia Koolau Range Waipio. Along Kipapa Gulch Abandoned, grassy, pineapple field Preserved_Specimen Tree: 5 m x 1 m. Flower: white. Shinohara, B. 2 Oahu BISH 1946-09-29
7 Melaleuca quinquenervia near Kailua Levee Small scattered groves. In standing water. Preserved_Specimen Flowers white, seedlings abundant. Smith, L.B. 99.3 Oahu BISH 1976-05-10
8 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu Co. Along trail to crest of Koolau Range, near Puu Konahuanui, ca 3.5 air mi NNE of University of Hawaii campus Native forest Preserved_Specimen Young, D.A. 1645 Oahu BISH 1979-01-18
9 Melaleuca quinquenervia Waiakea HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 9/19/2003
10 Melaleuca quinquenervia Judd res, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Tree: 7 ft. Planted from pot, Apr 1925. Has grown 7 ft in that time. Flowers: yellowish white Judd Jr., A.F. 46 Oahu BISH 1926-08-29
11 Melaleuca quinquenervia Kipapa Gulch, SE ridge, Waipio Dist., Oahu Preserved_Specimen 15 ft. tall, Cultivated Grant, M.L. 7093 Oahu BISH 1934-07-13
12 Melaleuca quinquenervia Growing at Aihualama, upper Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Young tree ca. 4yrs old. Harris, J.A. 242261 Oahu BISH 1924-09-26
13 Melaleuca quinquenervia Lyon Arboretum 5039-T11 Preserved_Specimen Tall tree with light-colored, layered, spongy, peeling bark, whitish flowers. Cultivated. Herbst, D.R. 623 Oahu BISH 1967-09-25
14 Melaleuca quinquenervia Waiakea HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 9/28/2003
15 Melaleuca quinquenervia Puna District: land of Olaa. Along Highway 11 by Glenwood Garden Estates Preserved_Specimen Tree with white, thick bark; white flowers; aromatic foliage. Herbst, D.R. 5542 Hawaii BISH 1975-10-23
16 Melaleuca quinquenervia Lyon Arboretum, Site: H24-1-1 Preserved_Specimen Leaves aromatic when crushed. Bark deciduous, soft, paper-like. Osgood, R.V. 8 Oahu BISH 1964-11-11
17 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Manoa Valley, Forest Reserve Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 399 Oahu BISH 1927-01-01
18 Melaleuca quinquenervia Waiakea HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 9/19/2003
19 Melaleuca quinquenervia Koolau Mts. Paalaa, Marsh Trail Preserved_Specimen Cult. forest tree. Krauss, N.H. Oahu BISH 1933-12-10
20 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Manoa Valley, near head, Arboretum of H.S.P.A Preserved_Specimen Fls. whitish. Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1941-06-02
21 Melaleuca quinquenervia Pupukea Road, North on Oahu, Sunset Beach area Oahu. Laie, Oahu, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Tanabe, L. 12 Oahu BISH 1960-12-07
22 Melaleuca quinquenervia Poamoho Trail, Koolau Range Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. 47 Oahu BISH 1955-11-20
23 Melaleuca quinquenervia Koolau Range, Tantalus Trail Preserved_Specimen Cowan, R.S. 202 Oahu BISH 1944-05-01
24 Melaleuca quinquenervia S Ridge Trail of Kipapa Gulch. Waipio-Waiawa, Koolau Range Preserved_Specimen Ozaki, E.T. 25 Oahu BISH 1952-11-23
25 Melaleuca quinquenervia S ridge of Kipapa Gulch, Waipio, Koolau Mts Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1932-05-15
26 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, 1530 Lehua St Preserved_Specimen Harris, W. Oahu BISH 1942-04-08
27 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Kalihi Valley Preserved_Specimen Harris, A. Oahu BISH 1956-07-16
28 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Punahou Campus Preserved_Specimen Appleby, U. Oahu BISH 1930-10-14
29 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, 1530 Lehua St Preserved_Specimen Harris, W. Oahu BISH 1942-04-08
30 Melaleuca quinquenervia S ridge of Kipapa Gulch, Waipio Koolau Mts. Zone 2 Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1932-05-15
31 Melaleuca quinquenervia Ko'olau Mts; Aiea Loop Trail Preserved_Specimen Ziegler, M.F. Oahu BISH 1987-06-10
32 Melaleuca quinquenervia Poamoho Trail, Koolau Range Preserved_Specimen Woolford, H.A. 47 Oahu BISH 1955-11-20
33 Melaleuca quinquenervia Waianae Ridge; Puu Manawahua Moderately dry mountains. Preserved_Specimen Tanaka, Y. Oahu BISH 1929-12-08
34 Melaleuca quinquenervia Wahiawa Bog (Kanaele Swamp) Margin of bog. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5204 Kauai BISH 1983-12-22
35 Melaleuca quinquenervia Maui Moist-soil; luxurious. Preserved_Specimen Tree tall Flower: rachis & calyx. Pubescent. Fruit = 3 mm diam. Haughes, D. 42 Maui BISH
36 Melaleuca quinquenervia Puna; Malama-ki On quite barren pahoehoe lava Preserved_Specimen Four bushes, each ca 2.5 feet tall and 3 feet across. Doty, M.S. Hawaii BISH 1960-09-08
37 Melaleuca quinquenervia Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range On scraped limestone. With Prosopis palida, Leucaena leucocephala, Pithecellobium dulce, and Waltheria indica. Preserved_Specimen Small tree 3 m tall. Leaves relatively small ~2.5 cm. BISH staff 53 Oahu BISH 2021-05-04
38 Melaleuca quinquenervia Puunana Ditch Moist-soil; luxurious. Preserved_Specimen Tree tall Flower: rachis & calyx. With pubescent inflorescence. Fruit = 5 mm diam. Haughes, D. 42 Maui BISH
39 Melaleuca quinquenervia Road system between Ka'ena and Kealia trail Dry sandy soil. Invasive dominated area Preserved_Specimen Abundant in this area with Pinus, Acacia, Casaurina Faccenda, K. 2156 Oahu BISH 2021-11-06
40 Melaleuca quinquenervia Waimea District, Polihale ridge above (E of) Polihale State park Disturbed native dry thicket on steep slopes w. native remnants and forestry plantings. Preserved_Specimen Tree 6m ht, bark papery, peeling, fruits brownish. Lorence, D.H. 5270 Kauai BISH 1987-06-09
41 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Kalihi Valley Slope: 45 degrees. Preserved_Specimen Vegetation type: tree. Leaves oval to oblong, white flower. Distribution: large number in Hawaii, usually in forests. It is conspicuous for its many layers of peeling, spongy bark. Higuchi, G.T. 10 Oahu BISH 1971-04-26
42 Melaleuca quinquenervia East Maui, Hana, along Hana Highway about one mile from Kailua Growing in gulch with Psidium-Eucalyptus in closed forest; undergrowth of Zingiber-grasses and ferns. Preserved_Specimen Tree to 25 feet tall; dbh 9 inches. Leaves alternate, oval to oblong; with longitudinal veins. Flowers white. Capsules spherical and remaining on branch. Spence, G. 75 Maui BISH 1972-10-15
43 Melaleuca quinquenervia Puehu Ridge, along Hwy 55 ca. 3mi from enterance to Waimea State Park Open forest of planted Melaleuca and Eucalyptus. Preserved_Specimen Tree 20ft ht; dbh 10; lvs oval to oblong, alternate, w. parallel veins, lt grn top and bottom; flowers white; fruits a spherical capsule remaining on branches after maturing. Spence, G. 103 Kauai BISH 1972-11-07
44 Melaleuca quinquenervia W Maui, Waihee At trailside in ohia-uluhe zone. Preserved_Specimen Weedy tree. Takeuchi, W.N. 7522 Maui BISH 1992-03-24
45 Melaleuca quinquenervia W Maui, Waihee At trailside in ohia-uluhe zone. Preserved_Specimen Weedy tree. Takeuchi, W.N. 7522 Maui BISH 1992-03-24
46 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Pupukea Ridge Semi rain forest, slope 3, clay soil. Preserved_Specimen Aromatic tree with opposite lvs. Guinto, J. 14 Oahu BISH 1986-01-21
47 Melaleuca quinquenervia Eastern Hawaii; near Kapoho, 20 miles SE of Hilo Roadside windbreak tree. Introduced. Preserved_Specimen Small tree 20 ft. in height. Little Jr., E.L. 31060 Hawaii BISH 1976-08-17
48 Melaleuca quinquenervia Koolau Range, Waimea, Pupukea-Kahuku lower forest zone, leeward side with Acacia koa. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m high; adventive. Flowers: creamy white, in cylindrical spikes 4.5 cm. long. Fruit: woody, hemispherical or spherical capsule. Chock, A.K. 3 Oahu BISH 1949-10-09
49 Melaleuca quinquenervia East Maui, Hana District, Waianapanapa State Park, along trail heading toward Hana Airport On aa substrate fronting Pandanus forest, growing with Fimbristylis cymosa, Scaevola taccada, Hoya australis. Preserved_Specimen Low, windblown clump in slight depression in aa terrain. Imada, C. 200295 Maui BISH 2002-11-20
50 Melaleuca quinquenervia Honolulu, Haleiwa sea level, slope 5%, sand Preserved_Specimen veg type, ornamental. 10 - 15 ft, fluffy yellow flowers, paper-like bark. Aki, J. 48 Oahu BISH 1969-12-09
51 Melaleuca quinquenervia Laie, Hawaii. BYU-H campus slope: flat. Soil: loam. Vegetation type: Trees. Preserved_Specimen Alternate leaves, entire, tree, bark flakes off. distribution: often cultivated - reforestation Ziegelbauer, K. 42 Oahu BISH 1975-04-02
52 Melaleuca quinquenervia Pupukea Semi Rain Forest, 3%slope, red clay soil. Preserved_Specimen Many layers of peeling bark, branches grow from end of seed pod. Smith, M. 2 Oahu BISH 1986-01-21
53 Melaleuca quinquenervia About 2 miles beyond Waikolu valley Lookout Associated w/Metrosideros-Cyperus-Wikstroemia-Coprosma. Side of road. Preserved_Specimen Planted tree about 15 feet tall; dbh 8 inches. Leaves alternate; oblong; with parallel veins. Flowers white; fruit a persistant sperical capsule. Spence, G. 118 Molokai BISH 1972-11-28
54 Melaleuca quinquenervia Kipapa Trail, off trail, S of trail, saddle between Puu Kamana and peak to E disturbed wet lowland forest; Metrosideros, Acacia, Dicranopteris Preserved_Specimen ~9 m tree; bark light cream to gray, spongy, peeling; fruit Reynolds, L.S. 116 Oahu BISH 2006-06-08
55 Melaleuca quinquenervia Pupukea-Black Jct. Trail, along trail In light Preserved_Specimen Volunteer seedlings Egler, F.E. 3720 Oahu BISH 1937-05-03
56 Melaleuca quinquenervia Kipapa trail, Waipio Waiawa, Koolau Range In grassy area, growing in an open stand Preserved_Specimen tree 15 ft high. Urata, U. Oahu BISH 1952-11-23
57 Melaleuca quinquenervia Pupukea Ridge Slope = 1 %; Soil = sandy loam; veg. type = forest. Preserved_Specimen Thick, Alt. pointed leaves; grow up to 800 ft. Sanchez, S. 25 Oahu BISH 1986-01-21
58 Melaleuca quinquenervia U.H. Campus, East-West Rd In full sun. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m tall. Stamens and pistil white. Flower not fragrant (afternoon). Lau, J. 1256 Oahu BISH 1985-07-24
59 Melaleuca quinquenervia Pupukea Mt. in Kahuku Slope: 38%. Soil: clay. Vegetation type: forest. Preserved_Specimen tall tree with peeling bark. Distribution: scattering on the mountain Kwok, K.T.W. 9 Oahu BISH 1967-02-28
60 Melaleuca quinquenervia S Ridge of Kipapa Gulch, Waipio-Waiawa, Koolau Range Grassy flat at the edge of forest Preserved_Specimen Tree 20 ft tall Ozaki, E.T. 25 Oahu BISH 1952-09-23
61 Melaleuca quinquenervia Between Haalelepaakai & Puu Kole Sparingly naturalized trees in degraded Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Forest, on slopes and near ridge tops. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 10804 Lanai BISH 2008-01-07
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