Scientific Name: Melaleuca Salicina
Common Name: Bottlebrush
Indigenous Use
Flowers sucked for nectar. Bark was used when the sap was up. It was stripped off and used for water proofing huts. Used in cooking by wrapping foot in it. The bark is also used for bedding, for storing and cooling food, for fire, tinder, fish traps, personal rain protection and for wrapping corpses.
When to Use
Bark is used all year round. Flowering mainly occurs in spring and summer, attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and birds.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Melaleuca Salicina are narrow and lance-shaped, resembling those of a willow tree, which gives the plant its common name, “Willow Bottlebrush.” They are typically 5-10 cm long and 1 cm wide, with a distinct midrib and smooth margins. The leaves are often a pale green to yellowish-green colour (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Atlas of Living Australia, 2023).
Bark: The bark is one of the distinctive features of Melaleuca Salicina, often peeling away in papery layers. The bark can range in colour from white to grey and is generally smooth, adding to the ornamental appeal of the tree (Australian Native Plants Society, 2024).
Flowers: Melaleuca Salicina produces characteristic bottlebrush-shaped flower spikes that are typically cream to pale yellow, although they can sometimes be pink or red. The flower spikes are about 5-10 cm long and appear at the ends of the branches. (Atlas of Living Australia, 2023; Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024).
Seeds: Melaleuca Salicina generally produces seeds that mature and are released in the summer following the flowering season. The woody capsules remain on the plant for several years, gradually releasing the seeds when they are ripe (Atlas of Living Australia, 2023).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Freshwater Wetlands: Freshwater wetlands are ecosystems where freshwater accumulates in substantial quantities, creating habitats that support diverse plant and animal life. These wetlands can even occur in sand dunes, although those situated above the water table tend to dry out more frequently. Common vegetation in these wetlands includes reeds, sedges, and water lilies, as well as trees like Melaleuca (paperbark) and swamp box. Notable examples of extensive freshwater wetlands in South East Queensland include the Cooloola Wetlands, Pimpama Conservation Park, and Springbrook Plateau. These areas are vital for biodiversity, water purification, and flood control.
Eucalyptus Forests: Eucalyptus forests are characterised by their dominant eucalyptus tree species, thriving in a variety of soil types and pH levels, usually ranging from 4.5 to 7. These forests support a diverse understory of shrubs, grasses, and ground covers, and are adapted to periodic fires which help in seed germination and pest control. Common plants found in eucalyptus forests include wattles, grevilleas, and native grasses. These ecosystems are prominent in areas such as Toohey Forest, the Glass House Mountains, and D’Aguilar National Park.
References
Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024. Callistemon salignus. [online] Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/callistemon-salignus.html [Accessed 8 June 2024].
Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), 2023. Callistemon salignus (Willow Bottlebrush). [online] Available at: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2917308 [Accessed 8 June 2024].
Australian Native Plants Society, 2024. Callistemon salignus. [online] Available at: http://anpsa.org.au/c-sal.html [Accessed 8 June 2024].
Cherikoff, V. and Jennifer Isaacs, The Bush Food Handbook: How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Sydney, 1992
Cribb, A.B. and J.W., Useful Wild Plants. Fontana Books 1982
Leiper, Glen, Muteroo: Plant use by Australian Aboriginal People. Eagleby South State School, Brisbane
Stanley and Ross, Flora of South East Queensland. Queensland Herbarium DPI Publication, Brisbane, 1989
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.