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Melia azedarach L.
White Cedar

Reference
Sp.Pl. 1:384 (1753)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Mixed (Native in Part of Range, Naturalised Elsewhere)
Name Status
Current

Deciduous tree, 2-15 m high, naturalised in the Perth Region. Fl. white-pink-purple, Sep to Nov. Sandstone, limestone. Floodplains, ridges, gorges.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 22 August 1996
Image

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Central Kimberley, Coolgardie, Dampierland, Jarrah Forest, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Victoria Bonaparte.
IBRA Subregions
Eastern Goldfield, Fitzroy Trough, Hamersley, Hart, Keep, Merredin, Mitchell, Northern Jarrah Forest, Pentecost, Perth, Purnululu.
IMCRA Regions
Kimberley, Leeuwin-Naturaliste.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Armadale, Ashburton, Cockburn, Derby-West Kimberley, Gosnells, Halls Creek, Harvey, Joondalup, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kwinana, Rockingham, Waroona, Wyndham-East Kimberley, Yilgarn.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Growth form. Tree. Reproduction. Seed, suckers prolifically following disturbance. Dispersal. Birds, water, rats, mulch. Time to first flowering. 3 years from seed, 2 years from suckers. Toxicity. Poisoning is said to occur if 6-9 fruits, 30-40 seeds or 400g of the bark is consumed.. Vegetative regeneration strategy. Resprouts produces root suckers, stem layering. Woody structure. semi ring porous. Seedbank persistence. Medium, several years. Fire response. Suckers prollifically.

Additional information. Origin. China, Japan, Indian sub-continent, south-eastern Asia, northern Australia. History of use/introduction. Garden escape.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull seedlings, ensuring removal of all root material. Stem inject older plants using 50% glyphosate, or basal bark with 250 ml Access® in 15 L of diesel to base 50 cm of trunk. Avoid root disturbance until trees are confirmed dead. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Flowering               O Y Y Y O  
Fruiting Y O               O Y Y  
Optimum Treatment Y Y O               O Y  

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Batcher, M.S. (2000) Element stewardship abstract for Melia azedarach. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, USA. URL: http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs.html - Accessed December 2007.
  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
  • Navie, S. & Adkins, S. (2008) Environmental Weeds of Australia, An interactive identification and information resource for over 1000 invasive plants. Centre for Biological Information Technology, The University of Queensland.
  • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (2008) Plant threats to Pacific ecosystems. URL: http://www.hear.org/pier/scinames.htm - Accessed January 2010.
  • Phua, D.H., Tsai, W., Ger, J., Deng, J & Yang, C (2008) Human Melia azedarach poisoning. Clinical Toxicology,.
  • Tourn, G.M., Menvielle, M.F., Scopel, A.L. & Pidal, B (1999) Clonal strategies of a woody weed: Melia azedarach. Plant and Soil, 217: 111-117 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.