Melaleuca cajuputi
Melaleuca cajuputi
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of hot, moist, lowland tropical areas, found at elevations from sea level 150 metres, with occasional specimens to 400 metres[1]. It grows in areas where the mean temperature is in the range 17 - 33°c, and the mean annual rainfall is 1,300 - 1,750 mm with a strong, monsoonal pattern[1]. Grows in a wide range of conditions, but most stands are found on low swampy coastal plains, sometimes immediately behind mangroves that may be flooded to a depth of over one metre during the wet season[1]. The soils are often highly organic alluvial clays with poor drainage and very low fertility, and may be potentially acid sulphate[1]. Plants can succeed in very acid conditions with a pH of 4 or less, but grow better in richer soils with a higher pH[2]. Tolerates exposure to salt-laden winds[1]. A long-lived, moderately fast-growing tree[3]. Plants are resistant to fire[1]. Young trees set their first flower buds when only 13 - 14 months old[1]. In some areas of the tropics the plant flowers all year round, in other areas it is more seasonal[1].
Propagation
Seed - does not require pre-treatment[2]. In the nursery, seeds are sown in seedbeds and covered with a very thin layer of soil, or mixed with sand and spread on top of the seedbed[2]. The seeds are very light sensitive and will not germinate or grow in shade[2]. Germination is usually only 30 - 40% due to many empty seeds. The tiny seedlings are sensitive to desiccation and to strong watering, both artificially and by heavy direct rain. After germination seedlings are transplanted into pots, nursery period is from 3 - 6 months[2]. Cuttings are easy[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Melaleuca+cajuputi>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Seed Leaflets — Various · Forest & Landscape. Denmark · http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title ↩︎A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
- [3]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
- [4]Identification and utilization of lesser-known commercial timbers in Peninsular Malaysia 6 — Lim S.C. & Gan K.S. · Forest Research Institute; Malaysia · 2006 · http://www.frim.gov.my/?page_id=1842 · ISBN 139-258 ↩︎Part of an excellent series of publications, this one giving a brief guide to four lesser known groups of commercial timbers from southeast Asia. It is available in PDF format on the Internet.
- [5]Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants — http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 ↩︎Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
- [6]Trees of Sungai Wain — http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Sungaiwain/ ↩︎An excellent site with factsheets on almost 1,000 species of forest trees growing at Sungai Wain in Indonesia. Each factsheet has good quality pictures plus basic information on the ecology and uses of the plants.
- [7]The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. — Burkil. H. M. · Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. · 1985 - 2004 ↩︎Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/