Melaleuca Quinquenervia - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

Melaleuca quinquenervia was first described as a member of Metrosideros by the Spanish naturalist Antonio José Cavanilles in 1797, with Stanley Thatcher Blake of the Queensland Herbarium later placing it in Melaleuca in 1958. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek melanos 'black' and leukos 'white' (this references the trunks of other plants of this species). The specific epithet is derived from the Latin quinque 'five', and nervus 'nerve' or 'vein' – referring to the leaves. It is commonly known as the broad-leaved paperbark, broad-leaved tea tree or simply paperbark or tea tree in Australia, and as punk tree in the United States. It is known as niaouli in New Caledonia.