Melaleuca huttensis

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Melaleuca huttensis
Melaleuca huttensis (flowers).JPG
Status DECF P1.svg
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. huttensis
Binomial name
Melaleuca huttensis

Melaleuca huttensis is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, woody shrub with elliptic leaves, mostly crowded near the ends of the branches which are tipped with heads of white or yellow flowes during spring and early summer. It is a threatened species, potentially endangered by the construction of the Oakajee Port near Geraldton.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca huttensis is a shrub growing to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall, with its lower branches lacking leaves. Its leaves are near the ends of the branches, arranged alternately, broad oval to almost circular in shape, flat and fleshy, 3.5–6.6 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 3.2–5.8 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a rounded end. [1] [2]

The flowers are white to a shade of yellow and fade to pink. They are arranged in heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The heads are up to 22 mm (0.9 in) in diameter and composed of up to 14 groups of flowers in threes. The petals are 2–2.7 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and fall off as the flower opens. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 10 to 12 stamens. Flowering occurs between August and November and is followed by fruit which are woody, urn-shaped capsules usually 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, in small clusters around the stem. [1] [2]

Habit near the road to Coronation Beach. Melaleuca huttensis (habit).JPG
Habit near the road to Coronation Beach.
Leaves and fruit Melaleuca huttensis (leaves, fruit).JPG
Leaves and fruit
Bark Melaleuca huttensis (bark).JPG
Bark

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca huttensis was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected on the road to Coronation Beach near Geraldton. [3] [4] The specific epithet (huttensis) is derived from the name of the hearby Hutt River. [1]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in the Hutt River district [2] in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region where it grows in heath on sandplains. [5]

Conservation status

Melaleuca huttensis is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife [5] meaning that it is known from a few locations which are potentially at risk and all occurrences are on lands not managed for conservation. [6] A targeted flora survey was undertaken for the Oakajee Rail and Port development, although the development has so far not proceeded. [7]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Melaleuca idana is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with fine, silky hairs covering the new foliage and heads of pink to deep purple flowers in early spring. It is similar to Melaleuca sapientes, differing mainly in the shape of the leaves in cross-section and the length of its styles.

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

Melaleuca laetifica is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the west coast of Western Australia. It has unusual warty, hairy leaves and heads of bright yellow flowers in spring. It is one of the brightest yellow flowering melaleucas and deserves a place in gardens in semi-dry to temperate areas.

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

Melaleuca leuropoma is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small to medium-sized shrub which flowers over an extended period with flower colour varying from purple to yellow or white. The glossy, often brown petals covering the flower buds are also an unusual characteristic of this species.

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

Melaleuca longistaminea is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with small, prickly, heart-shaped leaves and heads of yellow to green flowers on the sides of the stems in winter and spring. It is similar to Melaleuca spectabilis which was formerly included in this species but has smaller flowerheads and narrower leaves.

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

Melaleuca orbicularis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to Melaleuca cordata with its pinkish "pom-pom" heads of flowers but its leaves are smaller, almost circular compared to the heart shaped leaves of the other species.

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

Melaleuca ryeae is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub, closely resembling Melaleuca amydra with its small leaves and profuse heads of pink to purple flowers but M.amydra has narrower leaves and does not have spherical clusters of fruits.

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

Melaleuca tinkeri is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is one of the smallest melaleucas and is distinguished by its warty, hairy leaves, heads of pinkish flowers in late winter to spring and its spherical fruiting clusters.

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

Melaleuca zonalis is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with several stems, mostly spoon-shaped leaves and usually pale yellow flowers which age to pink. Whilst it is common, it is restricted to a relatively small area.

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

Melaleuca bisulcata is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the a relatively small area on the west coast of Western Australia. It is difficult to distinguish this species from Melaleuca psammophila except on differences in the shape of the calyx lobes.

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

Melaleuca ciliosa is a small shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has bright or pale yellow flowers, an unusual calyx and leaves that are slightly hairy, especially around the edges.

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

Melaleuca spectabilis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was formerly known as a subspecies of Melaleuca longistaminea. It is a low, prickly shrub with yellow or lime-green flowers in spring and early summer.

References

  1. 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. 200. ISBN   9781922137517.
  2. 1 2 3 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 142–143. ISBN   1876334983.
  3. "Melaleuca huttensis". APNI. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  4. Craven, L. A.; Lepschi, B. J. (1999). "Enumeration of the species and infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) occurring in Australia and Tasmania". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (6): 881. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
  5. 1 2 "Melaleuca huttensis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  7. "Oakajee Port and Rail targeted flora survey, Melaleuca huttensis" (PDF). Government of Western Australia, Environmental Protection Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.