Melaleuca gnidioides

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Melaleuca gnidioides
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. gnidioides
Binomial name
Melaleuca gnidioides
Synonyms [1]

Melaleuca gnidioides is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. It is one of only a few members of its genus to occur outside Australia and is a small shrub with heads of white flowers which turn pink with age.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca gnidioides is shrub growing to a height of 1.5 m (5 ft) with thin, grey bark. The stems and leaves are glabrous except when very young. The leaves are 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long, 1.5–6 mm (0.06–0.2 in) wide, leathery and narrow elliptic in shape with the end tapering to a point. There are 5 to 7 parallel veins on the leaf. [2] [3]

The flowers are in roughly spherical heads on the ends of the branches which continue to grow after flowering. The flowers are white at first but turn pink as they age. The stamens are arranged in bundles around the flower and there are 4 to 9 stamens per bundle. Flowering occurs throughout the year but mainly in summer. The fruit are woody capsules 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca gnidioides was first formally described in 1864 by Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart and Jean Antoine Arthur Gris in Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique. [4] [5] The specific epithet (gnidiodes) is in reference to the similarity of this species to a plant in the genus Gnidia in the family Thymelaeaceae. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca gnidioides is found in the south of Grande Terre where it grows in maquis near watercourses and in hollows in ultramafic soils. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

Melaleuca parviceps, commonly known as rough honey-myrtle is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with varying shades of pink or purple flowers, the stamens tipped with yellow anthers. In describing it, John Lindley noted: "every twig ... is terminated by hemispherical heads of brilliant pink". It is similar to Melaleuca manglesii and Melaleuca seriata.

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

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

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

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

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References

  1. 1 2 "Melaleuca gnidioides". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. 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. 183. ISBN   9781922137517.
  3. 1 2 "Melaleuca gnidioides". Endemia Association. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. Brongniart, Adolphe-Theodore; Decaisne, Joseph (1864). Annales des Sciences Naturelles; Botanique. Paris: Victor Masson et fils. p. 139.
  5. "Melaleuca gnidioides". Tropicos: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 29 April 2015.