Melaleuca ericifolia
Family: Myrtaceae
Common name: swamp paperbark
Category: proposed 1a (NEMBA)
Description
Melaleuca ericifolia Sm. is a shrub or small tree 2-9 m high with pale bark tearing off in pieces. Leaves small, linear, dark green and scattered or in whorls of three. Inflorescences many-flowered, in dense spikes. Flowers white, solitary within each bract. Flowers from September to November. The fruit is a small cylindrical capsule containing numerous minute seeds.
Distribution
Swamp paperbark is native to Australia.
How it spreads
Swamp paperbark spreads by seeds and mainly clonal growth. In clonal growth, individual plants are able to cover large areas and produce numerous stems.
History in South Africa
It is not clear as to when the species was introduced into South Africa, but from preliminary observations by the EDRR team in the Western Cape Province at Waterval Nature Reserve, it seemed that the oldest plants were about 10 years old, suggesting that the plants had escaped notice until they were large enough to be clearly distinguishable from the surrounding fynbos.
Environmental and Economic impacts
Swamp Paperbark grows along watercourses and seasonally inundated wetlands and will form dense thickets in wetlands. This poses a threat to water resources and water-dependent biodiversity and related ecosystem services. This species can also tolerate well-drained situations.
How to eradicate
There are no registered herbicides for this species in South Africa, although cut-stump treatment with 1.5% Garlon (active ingredient triclopyr) herbicide mix seems to be highly effective.
What can you do to help?
Report sightings of these plants to the Early Detection and Rapid Responce Programme (EDRR) at SANBI. We will need to know its locality (the exact locality, supply any landmarks of GPS information if possible).
Contact details:
Ernita van Wyk
Email address: alienplants@sanbi.org.za
Tel: 021 799 8869
References
- Robinson, R. 2007. Regeneration mechanisms in swamp paperbarks (Melaleuca ericifolia Sm.) and their implications for wetland rehabilitation. PhD thesis. School of Biomedical Sciences, Victoria University, Australia.
- Wilson, P. G. "Melaleuca ericifolia". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain. Accessed 2011-07-17.
See more information about this series and categories of alien invasive plants