Subject: Re: What is Melaleuca alternifolia

From: [email-masked] (rick strimbeck)
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 1996 13:47:28 -0600

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked]
wrote:

> I have been told this is a plant only found in Australia.

Isn't that the one that's taking over the Everglades?

-- 
Rick Strimbeck
University of Vermont
School of Natural Resources
Burlington, VT

---

From: [email-masked] (rick strimbeck)
Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 08:43:51 -0600

Well, I had to look into it:

Author:         Nemecek, Sasha.
Title:          One good pest deserves another.
                release of Australian weevils to control the growth of
                melaleuca in the Everglades
Source:         Scientific American v. 273 (Sept. '95) p. 30+
ISSN:           0036-8733
Contents:       feature article
Abstract:       Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have
                identified an insect that may prove useful in the preservation
                of the Everglades.  The researchers hope that the Australian
                weevil will consume and destroy melaleuca trees, which have
                caused massive environmental damage since they were introduced
                to the Everglades at the turn of the century.  Gary Buckingham
                of the USDA believes that biological control is the only
                practical option for getting rid of the rapidly-spreading
                melaleuca trees.

Is this revenge for rabbits and prickly pear?

---

From: Owen Foley <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 1996 22:54:16 -0700

rick strimbeck wrote:
>melaleuca trees, which have caused massive environmental damage since they were 
>introduced to the Everglades at the turn of the century.  
> 

Right genus...wrong species folks
Melaleuca quinquenervia is the one in the everglades.
Mel. alternifolia is a much smaller tree with very small leaves. It is famous as 
the medicinal tea tree. Tea tree oil with exceptional antiseptic properties is 
extracted from the leaves.

Owen Foley

---

From: [email-masked] (Ian Staples)
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 10:05:47 GMT

>Melaleuca quinquenervia is the one in the everglades.

Thanks for that Owen.  I was despairing of excavating far enough
into my deep litter filing system to find the issue of _Sci. Amer_
that Rick referenced.  (Bit slack of them not to mention the species
in the abstract in fact.)

>Mel. alternifolia is a much smaller tree with very small leaves. 
>It is famous as the medicinal tea tree. Tea tree oil with exceptional 
>antiseptic properties is extracted from the leaves.

Thanks for promoting our infant local industry up here.  ;-)

Cheers,  Ian S.
-- 

Ian Staples                        E-mail : [email-masked]
c/- P.O. Box 1054 MAREEBA          Phone  : +61 (0)70 928 555 Home 924 847
Queensland Australia 4880            Fax  : +61 (0)70 923 593   "   "   "