Melaleuca formosa

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Kingaroy bottlebrush
Melaleuca formosa.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. formosa
Binomial name
Melaleuca formosa
Synonyms [1]

Callistemon formosusS.T.Blake

Melaleuca formosa, commonly known as Kingaroy bottlebrush or cliff bottlebrush is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in Queensland and peripherally in New South Wales, Australia (Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon formosus). [2] It is a shrub with weeping branches and spikes of lemon-coloured flowers in spring.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca formosa is a spreading shrub growing to 2–6 m (7–20 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 35–86 mm (1–3 in) long, 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide, flat, narrow egg-shaped or narrow elliptical with a mid-vein and have distinct oil glands and 11 to 24 branching veins. [3]

The flowers are whitish through cream to lime-green and arranged in spikes on the ends of branches that continue to grow after flowering as well as on the sides of the branches. The spikes are up to 45 mm (2 in) in diameter with 20 to 40 individual flowers. The petals are 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. There are 57 to 63 stamens in each flower, tipped with yellow. Flowering occurs throughout the year but mainly in spring and is followed by fruit that are woody capsules, 3.8–5.4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1958 as Callistemon formosus by S.T.Blake in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland based on a specimen found "near Kingaroy (near Edenvale Rwy. Stn.), low plateau, remnant of mixed low forest on red loam." [5] The specific epithet (formosa) is a Latin word meaning “beautiful” or "handsome", referring to the appearance of the plant. [3]

In 2006 Lyndley Craven sank Callistemon into Melaleuca giving the new combination Melaleuca formosa for this species. [6] [7] However, this change is controversial [2] and is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census [8] or the National Herbarium of New South Wales. [9] Callistemon formosus is regarded as a synonym of Melaleuca formosa by the Queensland Herbarium [10] and by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [11]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in near coastal districts in south eastern Queensland, where it grows in vine forest or as an understorey plant beneath eucalypts in loam or sandy soil over trachyte. [3]

Conservation status

Melaleuca formosa is classified as "near threatened" under the Government of Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992). [12]

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca formosa is grown as a street tree in Kingaroy. [4] It is recommended as a shrub to be grown under powerlines [13] and has been found to be relatively tolerant to the fungal disease, myrtle rust ( Uredo rangelii ). [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Melaleuca comboynensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca comboynensis, commonly known as cliff bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is usually a shrub, similar to Melaleuca citrina with its hard leaves, spikes of red flowers and clusters of cup-shaped fruits but differs in that its leaves are generally wider and its habitat is usually rocky outcrops rather than along watercourses.

<i>Melaleuca linearifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Melaleuca pachyphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Melaleuca paludicola</i> Species of plant

Melaleuca paludicola, commonly known as river bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with flexible, often drooping branches, pinkish new growth and spikes of cream, pale yellow, or sometimes pink flowers in summer.

<i>Melaleuca orophila</i> Species of plant

Melaleuca orophila, commonly known as needle bottlebrush or Flinders Ranges bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the eastern part of South Australia.. It is a medium-sized shrub with sharp-pointed, needle-like leaves and bright red bottlebrush flower spikes.

<i>Melaleuca brachyandra</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca brachyandra, commonly known as prickly bottlebrush or scarlet bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with narrow leaves and showy red and green flowers making it an ideal ornamental plant in temperate areas.

<i>Melaleuca recurva</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca recurva, commonly known as Tinaroo bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to higher areas of far northern Queensland in Australia.. It is a shrub with spikes of red flowers tipped with yellow in most months of the year and which often has leaves with their edges curled under.

<i>Melaleuca pallida</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca pallida, commonly known as lemon bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an upright shrub with thin, spreading branches, silvery new growth and pale yellow, sometimes pinkish bottlebrush flowers.

<i>Melaleuca chisholmii</i> Species of shrub

Melaleuca chisholmii commonly known as Burra bottlebrush is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub with rough bark, an open habit and spiky foliage but in winter has bright red flower spikes tipped with yellow.

<i>Melaleuca flammea</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca flammea, commonly known as tapering-leaved bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a shrub with broad, lance-shaped leaves which have wavy edges and taper gradually to a fine point. In spring it has typical bottlebrush flowers whose fiery colour gives the species its name.

<i>Melaleuca flavovirens</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca flavovirens, commonly known as green bottlebrush is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area near the New South Wales–Queensland border in Australia. It is a stiff shrub, distinguished by its silvery new growth and spikes of greenish flowers with yellow tips.

Melaleuca hemisticta, commonly known as Mount Wheeler bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of Queensland. It is a tall, bushy shrub with dark green leaves and red flowers spikes tipped with yellow.

<i>Melaleuca montana</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca montana, commonly known as mountain bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Border Ranges area of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.. It is a shrub or small tree distinguished from most other red bottlebrushes by its hairy petals.

Melaleuca montis-zamia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Springsure district in Queensland, Australia. It is a shrub with red bottlebrush flowers.

<i>Melaleuca pearsonii</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca pearsonii, commonly known as Blackdown bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a small, spreading but compact shrub with hard bark, soft foliage and profuse spikes of bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.

<i>Melaleuca polandii</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca polandii, commonly known as gold-tipped bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic a small area in far northern Queensland in Australia. It is a dense shrub with bronze-coloured, hairy new growth and spikes of red flowers tipped with yellow.

Melaleuca quercina, commonly known as Oakey bottlebrush is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of Queensland in Australia. It is small tree with dark, corky bark and spikes of yellow, cream or pink bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.

<i>Melaleuca sabrina</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca sabrina is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area near the border between New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a shrub with fibrous bark and red or pink bottlebrush flowers, tipped with yellow in spring and summer. It is similar to Melaleuca paludicola but distinguished from it by its stamens, which are almost twice as long as those of M. paludicola.

<i>Melaleuca salicina</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca salicina, commonly known as willow bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon salignus, a name that is accepted by the Australian Plant Census. It is a shrub or small tree with soft foliage, pink new growth, white papery bark and spikes of usually white or creamy bottlebrush flowers in spring.

<i>Melaleuca wimmerensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca wimmerensis, commonly known as the Wimmera bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the state of Victoria in Australia.. It is a recently (2008) discovered shrub, often with many stems arising from a lignotuber and is similar to Melaleuca paludicola but has pink or mauve flowers tipped with yellow anthers over a short period between October and early December.

References

  1. 1 2 "Melaleuca formosa". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Udovicic, Frank; Spencer, Roger (2012). "New combinations in Callistemon (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Muelleria. 30 (1): 23–25. doi:10.5962/p.292240. S2CID   251007557 . Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. p. 171. ISBN   9781922137517.
  4. 1 2 "Bottlebrush - genus Callistemon". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. "Callistemon formosus". APNI. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca formosa". APNI. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. Craven, Lyn A. (2006). "New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 16 (4): 472. doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2006)16[468:NCIMFA]2.0.CO;2. S2CID   84723155 . Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  8. "Callistemon formosus". APNI. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. "Callistemon formosus". PlantNET. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. "Melaleuca formosa". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. "Callistemon formosus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  12. "Mount Walsh National Park Management Statement" (PDF). Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  13. "Think smart, plant smart" (PDF). Ergon Energy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. "Myrtle Rust Management Plan (2012)" (PDF). Nursery and Garden Industry. Retrieved 14 June 2015.