Cultural significance
Melaleuca viridiflora has multiple uses for Indigenous people. The bark is peeled off in layers and is used for shelter, bedding, containers, storing and cooking food, fire tinder, watercraft, fish traps and ceremonies.
In traditional medicine, an infusion from leaves was drank, inhaled or used for bathing to treat coughs, colds, congestion, headache, fever and influenza.
Traditional Owners are concerned about weeds and feral pigs in Broadleaf tea-tree woodlands. They have knowledge about fire practices to benefit the woodlands and wildlife including mahogany gliders, ant plants and apollo jewel butterflies.
Mahogany Gliders
Mahogany gliders( Petaurus gracilis) are an endangered gliding possum species found only in the woodlands between Tully and Ollera Creek, north of Townsville. The last population estimate – 1500 to 2000 – was based on surveys from 1994 to 1996, before their woodlands habitat was battered by Cyclone Yasi.
As little as 50 % of the original habitat remains for the mahogany glider and the remaining habitat is badly fragmented. Future genetic health for this species relies on connectivity, and many isolated habitat areas rely on the remaining Broad leaf tea-tree woodlands for important food resources and tenuous connectivity.