Melaluca quinquenervia Easily identified by the squarish fruit capsules along the branches and peeling layers of bark, this member of the myrtle family is another Australian import. It has been used to dry-out wetland areas and to mark boundary lines. This tree is nearly impossible to eradicate. This is Florida s most common cedar and most people quickly recognize them. Found throughout the eastern United States, cedars have been used for their wood, sap, and shade qualities.
Birds love the berry-like cones, which are a food source during the winter.
Planting cedars should provide that food source to help attract birds and other wild-life to the cleared areas. Found throughout the world in the tropical and subtropical coastal areas, the Red Mangrove is a habitat in itself, providing food and shelter in its myriad of tangled branches. The Native Americans called this the walking stick , as the reddish roots seem to prop the leaves out of the water. Another local name is the Sea Pencil tree for the cigar-shaped seedlings produced. This is a land producer and protector, because the roots slow and trap sediments in the water, resulting first in tree islands, then later real islands as the plants grow outward.