Totem Poles

Totem Poles photos

Family: Myrtle (Myrtaceae)

Scientific Name:

Melaleuca decussata

Totem Poles - leaves
Photo: A J Brown

Other Common Name:

Cross-leaf Honey-myrtle

Status:

Indigenous to South Australia and Victoria

Plant Description:

An open, rounded shrub growing to 2 m height. Leaves are 5-15 mm long, oblong-lanceolate or linear, usually erect, arranged in two pairs of opposite rows which form a cross when viewed from above. Mauve flowers (which fade to white with age) are carried in small, cylindrical spikes on short, lateral branches or at the base of leafy branches. Flowering is from late spring to summer.

Habitat:

Occurs along watercourse, in swampy heathland, saltpans and sandy flats in western and central Victoria.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Central and Northern, Wimmera, Western	S0, S1, S2, S3	W2, W3

Comments:

Found to be highly tolerant of salt when used for rehabilitation work.

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

Totem Poles Photos

Totem Poles - flower Photo: A J Brown	Totem Poles - mature fruit Photo: A J Brown
Totem Poles - shrub Photo: A J Brown	Totem Poles - flower Photo: A J Brown
Totem Poles - scrubby tree Photo: A J Brown

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