Melaleuca lateritia

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Robin redbreast bush
Melaleuca lateritia.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. lateritia
Binomial name
Melaleuca lateritia

Melaleuca lateritia, commonly known as the robin redbreast bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is also one of the most widely cultivated of the genus because of its attractive flowers which occur over a long period and for its adaptability to a range of climates. It is a medium-sized shrub normally 2–2.5 m (7–8 ft) high with coarse, fibrous bark.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca lateritia is an erect shrub growing to about 2.5 m (8 ft) high, to 3 m (10 ft) wide. The leaves are light green, thin, linear, concave and glabrous, 6–25 mm (0.2–1 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and with a pointed tip. They are spirally arranged around the stem. [1] [2]

The flowers are bright-orange red, in spikes to 80 mm (3 in) long and 60 mm (2 in) in diameter on lateral branches from old wood, the stem continuing to grow beyond the flowers. Flowering occurs over an extended period from August to April and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) in diameter which last for many years without releasing their seeds. [2] [3]

Fruit Melaleuca lateritia (leaves, fruits).JPG
Fruit
Habit in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Melaleuca lateritia (habit).JPG
Habit in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca lateritia was first formally described in 1859 by Albert Gottfried Dietrich in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung, published by Christoph Friedrich Otto and A.G. Dietrich. [4] [5] The specific epithet (lateritia) is from the Latin lateritius, meaning "of bricks" [6] referring to the brick-red colour of the flowers. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Robin redbreast bush occurs in the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions of Western Australia. It grows in sandy soil in swampy areas. [7] [8]

Conservation status

Melaleuca lateritia is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [8]

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca lateritia is widely cultivated and it is well established in general horticulture. Although native to a dry summer climate it is one of the more adaptable to the wetter summer conditions of Australia's east coast. It grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny position, responds well to pruning to keep it in shape and to annual fertilising at the end of the flowering season. [9] [10] Honeyeaters, especially the eastern spinebill and New Holland honeyeater visit the flowers in Canberra. [3]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Melaleuca wilsonii, commonly known as Wilson's honey-myrtle or violet honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, native to parts of South Australia and Victoria. It is a shrub with narrow, pointed leaves and heads of purplish-pink flowers on the sides of the branches. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, frost hardy and often cultivated.

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

Melaleuca pulchella, commonly known as claw flower and claw honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is one of only two species of Melaleuca to have two kinds of stamens. The outer stamens are longer and curved, giving the appearance of a claw to the flower. It is a hardy shrub flowering over a long period, and has been a popular garden plant for many years.

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

Melaleuca decussata, commonly known as cross-leaf honey-myrtle or totem poles, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae native to South Australia and both native and naturalised in Victoria. It is an adaptable shrub, grown in many parts of Australia for its attractive foliage but is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Victoria.

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

Melaleuca minutifolia, commonly known as teatree is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. As suggested by its name, it has tiny leaves but it also produces creamy white to white flowers throughout the year in its native range.

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

Melaleuca citrina, commonly known as common red bottlebrush, crimson bottlebrush, or lemon bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon citrinus. Callistemon lanceolatus is an older name. It is a hardy and adaptable species, common in its natural habitat. It is widely cultivated, not only in Australia, often as a species of Callistemon. It was one of the first Australian plants to be grown outside the country, having been taken to England in 1770 by Joseph Banks. Its showy red flower spikes, present over most of the year in an ideal situation, account for its popularity.

<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 glomerata</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca glomerata, commonly known as the desert honey-myrtle, inland paperbark or white tea-tree is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae native to inland Australia. It is a small tree or shrub growing in arid areas, often in creek beds and shallow depressions.

<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 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.

Melaleuca linophylla is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is native to the north-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with narrow leaves and spikes of cream-coloured flowers in spring. It is distinguished by its fruits which are much more urn-shaped than those of other melaleucas.

<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.

References

  1. 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. 217. ISBN   9781922137517.
  2. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 162–163. ISBN   1876334983.
  3. 1 2 3 Elliott, Maree. "Melaleuca lateritia". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca lateritia". APNI. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. Dietrich, Albert (1834). Allgemeine Gartenzeitung. Berlin. p. 257. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 166.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 394. ISBN   0646402439.
  8. 1 2 Spooner, Amanda. "Melaleuca lateritia". FloraBase. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. "Melaleuca lateritia". Australian Native Plant Society (Australia). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  10. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 265. ISBN   0002165759.