Melaleuca diosmifolia
Common name
green honey-myrtle
Family
Myrtaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Erect shrub to 3 m; branchlets either erect or pendent. Leaves bright shiny green, oval, usually curved; spiralled on young stems. Flowers in striking green ‘bottle-brush’ heads.
Distribution
Endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Recorded as naturalised near Te Ahipara in Northland.
Habitat
Coastal, dunes
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Similar taxa
When flowering, is unlikely to be mistaken for other Melaleuca species.
Flowering
September – November.
Flower colours
Green
Fruiting
Hard persistent capsules with abundant seed.
Life cycle
Wind dispersal
Propagation technique
Seed germinates freely and abundantly.
Extant collections
Vouchers in AK.
Year naturalised
2016, though reported from 2014
Origin
West Australia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental; wind-breaks; nectar for bees and bird
Tolerances
Probably drought and wind-resistant
Etymology
diosmifolia: Diosma-leaved
References and further reading
Ogle CC, de Lange PJ, Cameron EK, Parris BS, Champion PD. 2020. Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 2007–2019. Perspectives in Biosecurity 5: 45–116 (p. 97). www.unitec.ac.nz/epress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Perspectives-in-Biosecurity-5-Ogle-etal.pdf.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: Ogle, C.; de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Melaleuca diosmifolia Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/melaleuca-diosmifolia/ (Date website was queried)