Melaleuca ochroma

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Melaleuca ochroma
Status DECF P3.svg
Priority Three — 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. ochroma
Binomial name
Melaleuca ochroma

Melaleuca ochroma is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is very similar to Melaleuca subfalcata , varying mainly in the length of its stamens and styles. Like M. subfalcata, it has pink to mauve flowers and leaves that are very hairy when young but become glabrous when mature.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca ochroma is a shrub growing to about 2.5 m (8 ft) tall with hard, fibrous bark. Its leaves are narrow oval shaped and covered with soft hairs when young but become glabrous with age and eventually linear in shape, slightly dished and with a sharp point on the end. Mature leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and are 13–19 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and about 1.0 mm (0.04 in) wide. [1]

The flowers are pink at first but fade to pale mauve, arranged on spikes 13–19 mm (0.5–0.7 in) wide in the axils of the leaves, each spike with 17 to 35 individual flowers. The petals are 2.4–3.5 mm (0.09–0.1 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 13 to 24 stamens. The stamens are 4.3–7.2 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and the styles are 6.5–7.2 mm (0.3–0.3 in) long. (In Melaleuca subfalcata, the stamens and styles are longer.) Flowering occurs in late spring and is followed by fruit which are woody cup-shaped capsule 3–4.4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long with a fairly smooth rim. [1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca ochroma was first described as a new species in 2000 by Brendan Lepschi. [2] [3] The specific epithet (ochroma) is from the Greek ochroma meaning "pallor" [4] in reference to the pale colour of the flowers. [1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca ochroma occurs in the Mount Holland - Hyden district [1] in the Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions. [5]

Conservation

Melaleuca ochroma is listed as "Priority Three" Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife [2] meaning that it is only known from a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [6]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Melaleuca campanae</i>

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<i>Melaleuca clavifolia</i>

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<i>Melaleuca linguiformis</i>

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<i>Melaleuca zeteticorum</i>

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<i>Melaleuca zonalis</i>

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<i>Melaleuca protrusa</i>

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<i>Melaleuca spectabilis</i>

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<i>Melaleuca ulicoides</i>

Melaleuca ulicoides is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a small, densely foliaged shrub with small heads of white or cream flowers in spring. It is closely related to Melaleuca marginata but can be distinguished from it by the number and character of leaf veins.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 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. 255. ISBN   9781922137517.
  2. 1 2 3 Craven, Lyn A.; Lepschi, Brendan J.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (2010). "Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) of Western Australia: five new species, three new combinations, one new name and a new state record". Nuytsia. 20: 30.
  3. "Melaleuca ochroma". APNI. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  4. "ochroma". Mirriam-Webster dictionary. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca ochroma". 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.