Agonis flexuosa (Sprengel) Schauer, Myrtaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Metrosideros flexuosa Willd.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Western Australian myrtle, Western Australian peppermint, Western Australian willow myrtle, willow myrtle, willow-peppermint

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description: 

Genus:  "Shrubs or trees.  Leaves alternate or in alternate clusters, sometimes shortly stalked, usually with a peppermint-like odor when crushed.  Inflorescence of small globular to ellipsoid spikes.  Flowers bisexual, stalkless, each with a bract and 2 floral bracts; sepals 5 and petals 5, all free above a leathery floral tube, persistent petals white, circular or obovate with a short basal claw; stamens free, either 10, with 1 opposite each sepal and 1 opposite each petal or 15-25 with 3-5 opposite each of the sepals, shorter than the petals, anthers opening by longitudinal slits.  Fruit a 3-celled woody capsule"

Species:  "Erect or weeping tree to 10 m, a wind-pruned mallee or small shrub, the branchlets often zigzagging.  Leaves alternate, very narrowly elliptic to narrowly ovate, 20-120 mm long and 3.5-12 mm wide, flat or somewhat twisted, tip pointed.  Flower clusters axillary, globular; bracts broad, 1-1.5 mm long, hairy at least on keel, rounded.  Flowers white; sepals 1-2 mm long, hairy, usually pointed, petals 3-6 mm long, stamens 15-25, with 3-5 opposite each sepal" 

"There are 2 varieties.  The most common, var. flexuosa, has narrowly elliptic to narrowly ovate flat leaves 45-120 mm long and 4 or 5 stamens opposite each sepal, whereas var. latifolia has broader, somewhat  twisted leaves 20-45 mm long with the margin sometimes minutely indented and 3 or 4 stamens opposite each sepal.  The latter variety may be the result of hybridisation between Agonis flexuosa var. flexuosa and Agonis hypericifolia"  (Wheeler, 2002; p. 683).

Habitat/ecology:  In its native habitat in Western Australia:  "Various habitats from coastal heath to karri forest.  Widespread in near-coastal areas of the region.  Peppermint is extensively planted as a street tree"  (Wheeler, 2002; p. 683).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Western Australia; also cultivated (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2013) Harold L. Lyon Arboretum

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia

Control:  If you know of control methods for Agonis flexuosa, please let us know.