Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Gmelina arborea Roxb.

Family

Lamiaceae (Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia)
Verbenaceae (Northern Territory)

Common Names

gamhar, gmelina, gumhar, Malay beechwood, Malay bush beech, Malay bush-beech, snapdragon tree, white beech, white tea, yemane, yemani

Origin

Native to the Indian Sub-continent (i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), southern China and south-eastern Asia (i.e. Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines).

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in some parts of northern Australia (i.e. in the northern parts of the Northern Territory and in northern Queensland).

Also naturalised elsewhere in the tropical regions of the world.

Notes

White teak (Gmelina arborea) is regarded as an environmental weed in the Northern Territory and as a potential environmental weed in Queensland. It has been grown as an ornamental and shade tree, and occasionally also in forestry plantations. This species is naturalising from settlements in the tropical savannas of the Northern Territory and is actively managed by community groups in this region. White teak (Gmelina arborea) is also listed as a high priority weed in Aboriginal lands in the Northern Land Council area, and is of particular concern in Maningrida, in Arnhem Land.

White teak (Gmelina arborea) has also become naturalised at a few locations in the Cook district in far northern Queensland (e.g. it is established at Emerald Creek on the Atherton Tableland).