Swamp Paperbark

Swamp Paperbark photos

Family: Myrtle (Myrtaceae)

Scientific Name:

Melaleuca ericifolia

Swamp Paperbark - thicket
Photo: A J Brown

Status:

Native to eastern Australia

Plant Description:

Small to medium-sized tree up to 9 m tall. Delicate foliage with numerous fine branchlets and short needle-like leaves. The dark green leaves are arranged alternately on branches and are 1-2 cm long and often curved at the tip. The bark on the older trees is light brown, cracked and peeling. Creamy white flowers clustered in heads or short spikes with bright green leafy shoots at the ends. Flowers mainly in spring.

Habitat:

Generally growing in sand to sandy loam soils in the eastern and cooler parts of the state along creek and river flats and in swamps. Also found along the coast. Can exist in dry and waterlogged soils and under low to moderate salinity regimes.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Central and Northern	S1, S2	W1, W2
Gippsland	S1, S2, S3	W2, W3

Comments:

Swamp Paperbark used to be very common in thickets and swamp-forests before land clearance and drainage. The young straight stems have been much used for brushwood fencing. An aromatic oil in the leaves has been used for dental and medical preparations and in scented soaps.

A key to the more common Melaleuca species on waterlogged and saline land can be accessed here – Key to Melaleuca.

Swamp Paperbark Photos

Swamp Paperbark - flower Photo: A J Brown	Swamp Paperbark - flowering Photo: A J Brown
Swamp Paperbark - mature fruit Photo: A J Brown	Swamp Paperbark - flowers and buds Photo: A J Brown
Swamp Paperbark - leaves Photo: A J Brown

Related Links

Australian Ecology - Salinity and waterlogging tolerance of some populations of Melaleuca ericifolia (external link)
Marine Freshwater Research - Germination characteristics of Melaleuca ericifolia Sm. (swamp paperbark) and their implications for the rehabilitation of coastal wetlands (external link)

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