Assignment/exercise
USC Plant Profile - Myrtaceae, Melaleuca quinquenervia
University of the Sunshine Coast
2021
Appears in UniSC Plant Profiles
Abstract
Melaleuca quinquenervia is a medium-sized tree that inhabits swampy, wet environments along the coastline of Queensland and New South Wales, growing up to 25 m tall but typically seen around 12 m (Leiper et al. 2012). It is easily identified by its five prominent longitudinal veins on the alternate growing leaves and multi-layered papery bark (Australian Native Plant Society Australia (ANPSA) 2007). Flowering occurs mainly from September to March appearing white and spikey, attracting native fauna such as rainbow lorikeets and little red flying foxes to feed upon the nectar (Leiper et al. 2012). Tiny seeds are enclosed in woody seed capsules up to 5 mm in diameter, cylindrically covering around the stem and released annually (ANPSA 2007). Several weeks after bushfires the plant resprouts rapidly from epicormic shoots (Fern 2019).
Cajeput oil is extracted from the leaves by steam distillation which is used as a flavouring component in meat products, and is also used to prevent lice, fleas and mosquito bites (Fern 2019).
Details
- Title
- USC Plant Profile - Myrtaceae, Melaleuca quinquenervia
- Authors
- Reyce Hall (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Location
- Latitude: -26.465 Longitude: 153.063; Latitude: -26.718 Longitude: 153.061; Peregian Beach bushland off Annie Drive; USC Sippy Downs campus near the bus stop.
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date collected
- 18-Mar-2021
- Date published
- 2021
- Copyright note
- © The Author. Reproduced with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99706795602621
- Output Type
- Assignment/exercise; Plant Profile Sheet
- Teaching and Learning
- ENS221; Plant Diversity and Ecology
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