Melaleuca Quinquenervia - Distribution and Habitat

Distribution and Habitat

The species grows in seasonally inundated plains and swampland in Australia, and can tolerate fires and seasonal waterlogging. It is a component of the savanna of western New Caledonia, scattered trees dotting the grassland habitat. Its spread through this landscape might have been facilitated by human fire regimes.In Australia, it is the third most diverse plant genus with up to 250 species. The majority of the populations can be seen southwest or Western Australia, with the center of diversity on the Cape York Peninsula and Northern Queensland. Major threats to M. quinquenervia are housing developments, roads, sugar canes and pine plantation. Remnants in Australia are not protected in reserves, with majority of its woodland located in private property where clearing continues. Melaleuca quinquenervia was introduced into Florida as early as 1900 when specimens were first planted near Orlando. There were two major introductions, one by J. Gifford to the East Coast in 1907, and one by A.C. Andrews to the west coast in 1912. The South Florida Water Management has recorded Melaleuca around the areas where they were originally introduced: southwest of Broward and northern Dade County on the east coast and southern Lee County and north of Collier County on the west coast.