Melaleuca groveana

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Grove's paperbark
Melaleuca groveana leaves, flowers and fruit.jpg
Melaleuca groveana leaves, flowers and fruit
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. groveana
Binomial name
Melaleuca groveana

Melaleuca groveana, commonly known as Grove's paperbark is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is an uncommon species with relatively large heads of white flowers in spring, the styles of which are significantly longer than the stamens.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca groveana is a large shrub or tree with fibrous or papery bark which grows to a height of 5–10 m (20–30 ft). Its leaves are arranged alternately on the stems, narrow elliptical in shape, 10–55 mm (0.4–2 in) long, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide tapering to a point, with a stalk 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long. The leaves have a distinct midvein and several lateral veins. [1] [2] [3] [4]

The white flowers are grouped in spikes up to 30 mm (1 in) long at the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering, and sometimes in the upper leaf axils. Each spike contains 3 to 16 flowers loosely arranged and up to 35 mm (1 in) in diameter. The petals are 3.5–3.8 mm (0.14–0.15 in) and fall off as the flower matures. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower and there are 11 to 26 stamens in each bundle. Flowering occurs in early spring but the flowers are relatively short-lived. The fruit are woody, cup or barrel-shaped capsules 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) in diameter and spaced along the branches. [1] [2] [3] [4]

M. groveana in the Australian National Botanic Gardens Melaleuca groveana habit.jpg
M. groveana in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
M. groveana Inflorescence detail Melaleuca groveana flower detail.jpg
M. groveana Inflorescence detail

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca groveana was first formally described in 1925 by Edwin Cheel and Cyril Tenison White in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland . [5] The specific epithet (groveana) honours C.H. Grove, a Queensland clergyman and the collector of the type specimen. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca groveana has a fragmented distribution from the Port Stephens district in New South Wales to the Bluff district in Queensland. It grows in heath and woodland with a heathy understorey, usually in higher areas, often in exposed sites on rocky ridges and outcrops and sometimes on low hills near the coast. [3] [4] [6]

Ecology

Some coastal populations of Grove's paperbark are under threat from competition with the introduced weed bitou bush ( Chrysanthemoides monilifera ). [7]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "vulnerable" in New South Wales [4] and "near threatened" in Queensland. [6] It is listed as "rare" in the 1997 IUCN red book of threatened plants. [8]

Uses

Horticulture

Melaleuca groveana is a hardy species, easily propagated from seed and suitable as a screening plant. Unlike most melaleucas, after initial establishment it is relatively drought resistant plant. [7]

Related Research Articles

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Melaleuca linariifolia is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is commonly known as snow-in-summer, narrow-leaved paperbark, flax-leaved paperbark and in the language of the Gadigal people as budjur. A hardy plant, it flowers prolifically in late spring or summer, making it a popular garden shrub or small tree in temperate places. Melaleuca trichostachya is a similar species but its leaves are arranged differently and the fruits have projecting valves.

<i>Melaleuca leucadendra</i> Species of tree

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

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

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<i>Melaleuca ericifolia</i> Species of tree

Melaleuca ericifolia, commonly known as swamp paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and the genus Melaleuca, native to south-eastern Australia. It is a rather variable species and some specimens resemble Melaleuca armillaris but its papery bark and smaller, more prolific flower heads distinguish it from that species. It often grows in swampy areas and the draining and clearing of these has reduced the numbers of the species, especially around Port Philip Bay near Melbourne. It is also similar to Melaleuca pustulata, a Tasmanian endemic, but that species only grows in dry heath.

<i>Melaleuca decora</i> Species of tree

Melaleuca decora, commonly known as the white feather honeymyrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is native to eastern Australia. It is a large shrub to small tree with papery bark, lance-shaped leaves and sweet-smelling, creamy-coloured flowers in summer. It grows in near-coastal forest and swamps in New South Wales and Queensland.

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

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

Melaleuca dealbata, commonly known as karnbor or blue paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is native to tropical areas in northern Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. It is a medium to large leafy tree, growing in wet areas such as on the edges of coastal lagoons. It has papery bark, relatively large, blue-green leaves and spikes of cream-coloured flowers over a long period.

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

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

Melaleuca cheelii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland. It is a shrub or tree to 10 m (33 ft) with white flowers and papery bark. It has been classified as "near threatened" by the government of Queensland.

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

Melaleuca deanei, commonly known as Deane's paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It is a shrub with flaky bark, narrow oval leaves and spikes of white flowers in spring and summer. The species only exists in a few isolated populations and is classified as vulnerable.

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

Melaleuca diosmatifolia, commonly known as rosy paperbark and pink honey-myrtle is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It was formerly known as Melaleuca erubescens but is not closely related to Melaleuca diosmifolia although the species name has the same meaning. It has pointed, non-prickly leaves and cylindrical spikes of pink or purple flowers.

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

Melaleuca irbyana, commonly known as weeping paperbark, bushhouse paperbark and swamp paperbark, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a shrub or small tree, often growing in pure stands in poorly drained areas. Its distribution is limited and it has been classified as an endangered species under legislation in both states and the forest as critically endangered under Australian government legislation.

Melaleuca kunzeoides is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to central Queensland in Australia. It is a rare shrub with a very limited distribution and is classified as 'vulnerable' by the Australian government..

Melaleuca sericea is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the north of Western Australia and the north-west of the Northern Territory. It is a paperbark similar to Melaleuca dealbata but its leaves are covered with silky hairs, the flowers are whitish by comparison and it does not grow as tall as that species.

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

Melaleuca sieberi is a shrub or tree in the myrtle, family Myrtaceae, which is endemic to coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland. It is a large shrub or small tree with papery bark on the trunk, small, sharp leaves and small heads of fluffy flowers in spring. It should not be confused with Callistemon sieberi. When the callistemons were moved to Melaleuca, Callistemon sieberi became Melaleuca paludicola.

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

Melaleuca tamariscina, commonly known as bush-house paperbark or tamarix honey-myrtle is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to central Queensland in Australia. It grows to the height of a small tree with small, scale-like leaves that are pressed against the branches, and has a papery bark and a weeping habit.

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

Melaleuca tortifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales in Australia. It has egg-shaped, twisted leaves and heads, or short spikes of white or creamy-white flowers in December. It is classified as a threatened species.

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

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. It is a shrub with weeping branches and spikes of lemon-coloured flowers in spring.

References

  1. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 130–131. ISBN   1876334983.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 185. ISBN   9781922137517.
  3. 1 2 3 Wilson, Peter. "Melaleuca groveana". Plantnet: Royal botanic garden Sydney. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Grove's paperbark". NSW government: Department of environment and heritage. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca groveana". APNI. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Melaleuca groveana". Queensland government department of environment and heritage protection. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 East, Regan. "Melaleuca groveana". Australian national botanic garden. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  8. Walter, Kerry S. (ed); Gillett, Harriet J. (ed) (1998). 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. p. 429. ISBN   283170328X . Retrieved 2 April 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)