Melaleuca trees in a stream after cyclonic rainfall, Western Australia

© Ted Mead/Getty Image

Tree time. Discovering the magnificent melaleuca

It might be hard to recognise, but nature lovers would know this beautiful group of melaleucas anywhere – a sturdy tree that can handle even the most brutal of rainfall. With around 300 recognised species – most of which are endemic to our shores – melaleucas amazingly cover about five per cent of Australia’s forested area. That earns it third place in the list of dominant forest types, right after eucalyptus.

Animals are a big fan, as well. Lorikeets, for example, are known to feast on the nectar of the tree’s flowers during the summer, while possums rely on tall melaleucas to safely navigate their way around forests and reach their feeding and den sites. Melaleuca forests even trap vegetation and debris during floods and storms, providing an ideal habitat for many fish species. Is there anything this tree can’t do?