Melaleuca1 species grow throughout Australia, although mainly in the northern areas. They are often called ‘paperbarks’ due to the distinctive
soft papery bark on many species.
Origin of the word
‘Melaleuca’ comes from the Greek words ‘melas’ meaning black and ‘leucon’ meaning white, which is believed to refer to the
layering of black and white bark.
Characteristics of the forest
Melalauca forests, or coastal swamp forests are predominantly Woodland or Open Forests, which occur in low-lying swales and
damp swampy areas along coast lines which are regularly inundated with water and dry out seasonally. They grow on deep sandy
soils, which are black with humus due to the slow decomposition of fallen leaves. Melaleuca quinquenervia2, together with Callistemon salignus3 and Eucalyptus robusta4 are the dominant trees of these forests. The shade they cast limits growth in the understory, which may be a composite of
small shrubs and annual herbs.
Melaleuca forests occur as low woodland in localised patches across coastal Australia and cover 7.5 million hectares in Australia
and make up 5% of Australian forest areas. They are usually found along estuarine floodplains and seasonal swamps in coastal
and near coastal areas.
Water tolerance
Melaleuca forests also grow along creeks and in low lying areas likely to have regular inundation. They can tolerate brackish
water and soils with low oxygen levels.
They can also occur as edges beside streams as the wood of Melaleuca contains high amounts of silica, which makes them able
to tolerate wet conditions.
Melaleuca swamp
Wetlands Environmental Education Centre5, Australia, located in Newcastle NSW, has a small remnant Melaleuca forest, which is the most significant plant community
on the site. Melaleuca Swamp Forest is particularly poorly represented within the Sydney Basin biogeographic region.
Shortland Wetlands
In 2001 the importance of Shortland Wetlands6 was recognised as a Ramsar7 Site, a wetland of International Significance due to its unique, high conservation value, near natural wetlands complex.
Google Earth
An example of a Melaleuca forest lies in the area around the Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia on Google Earth8. To move out of street view level and look at the wider area click the yellow person icon in the bottom right hand corner.
This resource will only work in the Google Chrome browser.
A wide range of birds and insects rely on melaleucas for habitats.
Habitat
Even small areas of Melaleuca forests can provide habitat for a wide range of insect, bird and animal species. Some species
of birds, such as egrets9 will nest almost exclusively in paperbark trees and nankeen night herons10 (Nycticoraxcaledonicus) nest in association with them. The masses of nectar rich flowers are an important food source for flying foxes, which are
important forest pollinators.
Ecosystem protection
Melaleucas can grow very closely together and help protect land plants from storms and salt spray. They trap debris and soil
runoff during floods and act as filters to recycle nutrients. Fallen trees and branches offer protection and habitat to many
fish species.
Industry
One species is grown extensively for the tea-tree industry11 as its aromatic leaves contain a natural antiseptic and it is commonly used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
Cultural Importance
Aboriginal Australians used melaleuca wood for canoes12 and the natural antiseptic in the oil of the leaves was used to treat colds, sore throats and flu13. The bark has been used as sheaths, fire starters, cooking food, blankets and bandages. The nectar from flowers can be sucked
directly for a sweet treat or soaked to produce a sweet drink.
The draining of wetlands is a major conservation issue for melaleucas
The proximity of melaleuca forests to coastal development and infrastructure has caused the largest impact to these forests
as any interference to the forest itself, as well as adjacent sites, will impact on hydrology.
Land clearing
In Northern Queensland, melaleuca forests occur almost exclusively on fertile alluvial14 soils, and have been cleared to provide land for agriculture, in particular, the sugar cane industry.
Drainage
Drainage and flood mitigation measures along coastal sites have caused such altered water flows that the drying and inundation
regime required for melaleuca species is removed.
Tourism
Growing tourism and urban development in preferred coastal habitats have seen large areas cleared for development.
Threat from birds
Large populations of birds using melaleucas for nesting can also have a detrimental effect to the forest. The birds use twigs
for nest construction, damaging healthy trees, and large nutrient loads are added to the surrounding water impacting on forest
regeneration.
The Wetlands Environmental Education Centre5 is located on a 45ha natural reserve of freshwater wetlands, Hunter Wetlands Centre, Australia. This once very disturbed
habitat has been restored over a period of 25 years and contains a remnant melaleuca forest.
Programs
The Wetlands EEC provides excursions for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and programs are primarily based on wetland
habitats.
Junior programs include:
What is a wetland?
What lives in a wetland?
Wet and dry environments; Minibeasts.
Each program progresses through more in-depth wetland features and issues.
Senior programs include:
Biology
Geography
Earth and environmental studies.
The senior programs are closely linked to HSC fieldwork requirements and cover investigations into local ecosystems, management
issues and human impacts.
More locations
Other Environmental Education Centres that provide access to melaleuca forests include:
