Melaleuca lutea

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Melaleuca lutea
Melaleuca lutea (leaves, flowers, fruits).JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. lutea
Binomial name
Melaleuca lutea
Synonyms [1]

Melaleuca citrina Turcz.

Melaleuca lutea is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. This species was previously known as Melaleuca citrina but was renamed to allow Callistemon citrinus to be moved to the genus Melaleuca . It is distinguished by its oval shaped, dense heads of yellow flowers and bushy foliage.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca lutea is an erect shrub which grows to a height of about 2–3 m (7–10 ft). Its leaves are a very narrow oval shape, 5.8–24 mm (0.2–0.9 in) long, 0.8–2.1 mm (0.03–0.08 in) wide, mostly glabrous with a blunt end. [2]

The bright yellow flowers are arranged in oval-shaped spikes, often on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The spikes contain 10 to 18 groups of flowers in threes, densely packed together, each spike up to 25 mm (1 in) long. The stamens are in five bundles around the flower, each bundle with 5 to 9 stamens. Flowering occurs in late spring and the fruit which follow are rounded, woody capsules 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long in tight clusters along the stem. [2] [3]

Habit at East Mount Barren Melaleuca lutea (habit).JPG
Habit at East Mount Barren
Bark Melaleuca lutea (bark).JPG
Bark

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca lutea [4] was previously known as Melaleuca citrina, first described in 1852 by Nikolai Turczaninow in Bulletin de la classe physico-mathematique de l'Academie Imperiale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg. [5] [6]

In 2006, Lyndley Craven proposed that all callistemons be moved to the genus Melaleuca. [7] [8] The move meant that Callistemon citrinus would become Melaleuca citrina. That name was already in use (a homonym). As a result, the name of the former Melaleuca citrina was changed to Melaleuca lutea.

The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "yellow" [9] referring to the flower colour of this melaleuca. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in heath and shrub from the Porongurup and Stirling Range National Parks to the Hopetoun district [2] [3] in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region. [10] It grows in sandy soils on rocky hills. [11]

Conservation status

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

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca lutea is well known in cultivation (usually as Melaleuca citrina) in Western Australia, growing in a range of soil types. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Melaleuca citrina, the common red bottlebrush, crimson bottlebrush, or lemon bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon citrinus. It is a hardy and adaptable species, common in its natural habitat. It is widely cultivated, not only in Australia. 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 brevifolia</i> Species of plant

Melaleuca brevifolia, commonly known as mallee honey-myrtle, short-leaf honey-myrtle, or d'Alton's melaleuca is a shrub or tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is native to western Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with rough, corky bark and a large number of heads of white to yellowish flowers on the previous season's growth. It is a moderately hardy garden plant.

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 adnata</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca adnata, commonly known as sandhill honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tall shrub with papery bark and spikes of white flowers in spring and early summer.

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

Melaleuca laxiflora, commonly known as narrow-leaved paperbark, is a woody, spreading shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its loosely arranged, mostly lateral pink flower spikes and its smooth, fleshy, oil-dotted leaves. It is often cultivated because of its hardiness and attractive flowers.

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

Melaleuca bracteosa is a low, spreading shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has tiny, fleshy, non-prickly leaves and cream flowerheads.

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

Melaleuca cucullata is a large shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its species name alludes to the shape of the leaves which resemble miniature academics' hoods.

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

Melaleuca depauperata is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has small, fleshy leaves and purple to pink flowers on short stalks along the branches.

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

Melaleuca lateralis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a showy shrub, well suited to horticulture, distinguished by its very small leaves and small clusters of pink flowers along the older stems.

<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 rigidifolia</i> Species of shrub

Melaleuca rigidifolia is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is similar to Melaleuca plumea with its pink or purple flowers but is distinguished from that species by its lack of fluffy hairs on the flowers and its spherical clusters of fruits.

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

Melaleuca subfalcata is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It has fibrous bark and pink to purple flowers in spikes, mostly on the side branches.

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

Melaleuca pyramidalis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to small areas of Queensland in Australia. It is closely related to Melaleuca citrina but is distinguished from it mainly by leaf and stamen differences. Melaleuca pyramidalis is only known from the summits of three mountains in Queensland.

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

Melaleuca megalongensis, commonly known as Megalong Valley bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales.. It is a shrub similar to Melaleuca citrina which occurs in the same area and is difficult to distinguish from it, except when in flower.

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

Melaleuca pearsonii, commonly known as Blackdown bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a small, spreading but compact shrub with hard bark, soft foliage and profuse spikes of bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.

Melaleuca phratra is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a large shrub similar to Melaleuca paludicola but has flower spikes that are a shade of pink.

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

Melaleuca serpentina is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Barraba district in Australia. It is a shrub with yellow or creamy-green bottlebrush flowers. It is similar to Melaleuca citrina but can be distinguished from that species by its flower colour and its shorter stamens.

Calothamnus affinis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, compact, or spreading shrub with red to purple flowers in spring.

<i>Conothamnus aureus</i> Species of flowering plant

Conothamnus aureus is a member of the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a spindly, straggly shrub with rigid, blunt leaves and spherical heads of golden yellow flowers resembling those of wattles.

Thryptomene cuspidata is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.6–2.2 m and blooms between July and November producing white or pink flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Melaleuca lutea". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 235. ISBN   9781922137517.
  3. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 56–57. ISBN   1876334983.
  4. "Melaleuca lutea". APNI. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca citrina". APNI. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. Turczaninow, Nikolai (1852). Bulletin de la classe physico-mathematique de l'Academie Imperiale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg, Volumes 10-11. St. Petersburg. p. 340. Retrieved 10 April 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. "Melaleuca background". Australian native plant society (Australia). Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. Craven, Lyn A. (19 December 2006). "New combinations in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) for Australian species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 16: 468–475. doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2006)16[468:ncimfa]2.0.co;2. S2CID   84723155 . Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  9. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 872.
  10. 1 2 "Melaleuca basicephala". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 392. ISBN   0646402439.