Melaleuca incana

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Grey honey-myrtle
Melaleuca incana incana (leaves, flowers).JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. incana
Binomial name
Melaleuca incana
Subspecies

Melaleuca incana, commonly known as grey honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia and is naturalised in the south of Victoria in Australia. It is commonly grown as a garden plant and produces large numbers of white or creamy yellow flowers, sometimes highly scented, in spring.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca incana is a shrub or small tree which grows to a height of about 5 m (20 ft) and has fibrous or flaky bark. The leaves are in threes, sometimes rings of four along the branchlets, 3.5–17 mm (0.1–0.7 in) long and 0.5–3.5 mm (0.02–0.1 in) wide, linear or very narrow elliptic in shape and tapering to a point. The leaves and young branches are covered with fine, soft hairs giving the foliage a grey appearance. [3]

The flowers are arranged in spikes, usually on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. Each spike has between 6 and 55 individual flowers and is up to 30 mm (1 in) long and 15 mm (0.6 in) wide, white, creamy white or yellow. The petals are 0.7–2.0 mm (0.03–0.08 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing between 3 and 11 stamens. Flowering occurs in spring and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules 1.5–4 mm (0.06–0.2 in) long in cylinder-shaped clusters up to 30 mm (1 in) long. [3] [4]

Habit near Point d'Entrecasteaux Melaleuca incana (habit).JPG
Habit near Point d'Entrecasteaux
Fruit Melaleuca incana incana (fruits).JPG
Fruit

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1819 by Robert Brown in Edward's Botanical Register . [5] Edwards called the plant "Grizzly Melaleuca" and noted that the plant was ...first observed by Mr. Brown, in King George the Third's Sound, on the south-west coast of New Holland. ... We were favoured with the specimen, for the drawing, by Lady Aylesford ... We are indebted to Mr. Brown for the specific characters, and all we know concerning the plant. [6] The specific epithet (incana) is from the Latin incanus meaning "quite grey", [7] "in reference to the colour of the leaves". [3]

There are two subspecies differing mainly in the form of the plant, the shape and size of the leaves, their flowering time and in their distribution:

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in the south-west of Western Australia and on the south coast as far east as Esperance in the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions. [10] It grows on swamp edges, in low woodland and heath in peaty soil and sand. [3]

Conservation status

Melaleuca incana is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [10]

Use in horticulture

This species, especially the nominate subspecies incana is widely cultivated. It is a hardy plant, fast growing, tolerating a range of soils and conditions after initial establishment and is frost hardy. It is widely available in commercial nurseries and tolerates pruning to form a hedge. [11] It is susceptible to scale insect attack. [12]

Related Research Articles

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

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

Melaleuca fulgens, commonly known as the scarlet honey myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is notable for its showy orange, red or purple flowers, unusual foliage and fruit, and is a popular garden plant. It is a member of Melaleuca, a large and diverse genus whose members range from large trees such as M. quinquenervia, to small shrubs.

Melaleuca penicula is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a rare species only known from the Fitzgerald River National Park and resembles Melaleuca eximia with its spikes of red flowers but its leaves and stamen bundles are different.

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

Melaleuca croxfordiae is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the far south-west of corner Western Australia. It is a paperbark, usually growing in winter-wet places, with long, narrow leaves and a few small creamy coloured flower heads in early summer.

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

Melaleuca dempta is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub resembling Melaleuca calycina with its heads of white flowers and egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaves. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Melaleuca calycina subsp. dempta but it lacks the star-like fruits of that species and its leaves have a blunt rather than a pointed tip.

Melaleuca eximia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its leaf arrangement, its large, showy red inflorescences and the large, furry bracts under the flowers.

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

Melaleuca hnatiukii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a medium to large shrub with arching branches, prickly tipped leaves and creamy-white heads of flowers in spring or early summer.

Melaleuca apodocephala is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, bushy shrub with crowded, grey-green leaves, corky bark and a profusion of creamy-yellow flowers on the sides of the branches.

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

Melaleuca calycina is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a stiff, erect shrub with oval to heart-shaped leaves, white flowers and star-shaped fruit.

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

Melaleuca diosmifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has also become naturalised in Victoria (Australia) Australia. It is unusual for its genus in that the flowers are green, which partly accounts for its popularity as a garden plant. It is only distantly related to Melaleuca diosmatifolia although its species name has a similar etymology.

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

Melaleuca globifera is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy, small tree with papery bark and spherical heads of flowers on the ends of the branches.

<i>Melaleuca incana <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> incana</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Melaleuca incana subsp. incana, commonly known as grey honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia and is naturalised in the south of Victoria in Australia. It is commonly grown as a garden plant and produces large numbers of white or creamy yellow flowers in early spring.

<i>Melaleuca incana <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> tenella</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Melaleuca incana subsp. tenella is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It was formerly known as Melaleuca tenella Benth. but was reduced to a subspecies in 1998. It is similar to M. incana subsp. incana except in the form of the plant, the size and shape of its leaves, its flowering time and distribution.

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

Melaleuca macronychia is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its large, red flower spikes and long flowering period contribute to its popularity as a garden plant. There are two subspecies, distinguished mainly by the shape of the leaves.

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

Melaleuca microphylla is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with small, crowded leaves and bears a close resemblance to the commonly cultivated Melaleuca ericifolia of the eastern states.

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

Melaleuca pauperiflora, commonly known as boree, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is native to the southern parts of South Australia and Western Australia. It is distinguished by its short, thick leaves and small but profuse heads of white or cream flowers. There are three subspecies.

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

Melaleuca scabra, commonly known as rough honey-myrtle, is a species of shrub that is endemic to a small area on the south coast of Western Australia. It has warty leaves and profuse, pink to purple heads of flowers between July and November.

Melaleuca calcicola is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It was formerly known as a subspecies of Melaleuca apodocephala but was reassessed in 2010 and raised to species status. Its branches are corky, the leaves pointed although not prickly and the flowers are creamy white, tipped with yellow.

References

  1. 1 2 "Melaleuca incana subsp. incana". APNI. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Melaleuca incana subsp. tenella". APNI. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 203. ISBN   9781922137517.
  4. 1 2 3 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 146–148. ISBN   1876334983.
  5. "Melaleuca incana". APNI. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  6. Brown, Robert (1819). The Botanical Register. London: James Ridgway. p. 410. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 381.
  8. "Melaleuca incana subsp. incana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  9. "Melaleuca incana subsp. tenella". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  10. 1 2 "Melaleuca incana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. "Melaleuca incana". Australian national botanic garden. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  12. "Melaleuca incana". Australian native plant society (Australia). Retrieved 5 April 2015.