Melaleuca phoidophylla

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Melaleuca phoidophylla
Melaleuca phoidophylla.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. phoidophylla
Binomial name
Melaleuca phoidophylla

Melaleuca phoidophylla is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its leaf arrangement, small raised blisters on the leaves and heads of white or cream flowers on the ends of the branches in spring.

Contents

Fruit Melaleuca phoidophylla fruit.jpg
Fruit
Habit near Bruce Rock Melaleuca phoidophylla habit.jpg
Habit near Bruce Rock

Description

Melaleuca phoidophylla is a shrub sometimes growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged in rings of three around the stem and are 3–7.6 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 0.9–1.6 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide, linear to narrow egg-shaped and with a rounded end. The leaves have small blisters and in cross section are crescent moon-shaped to semicircular. [2] [3]

The flowers are cream to white, sometimes pinkish and arranged in heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The heads are up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter with 3 to 18 individual flowers. The petals are 1.3–2 mm (0.05–0.08 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 7 to 11 stamens. Flowering occurs from September to November, and is followed by fruit which are woody, cup-shaped capsules, 1.8–2 mm (0.07–0.08 in) long in clusters along the stem. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca phoidophylla was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected near Pingaring. [4] [5] The specific epithet (phoidophylla) is derived from ancient Greek words phois meaning "blister" and phyllon meaning "leaf", [5] referring to the raised blisters on the leaves of this species. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in and between the Katanning, Boorabbin and Salmon Gums districts [2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Mallee and Murchison biogeographic regions. [6] It grows in sandy or clayey soils near lakes and areas that are seasonally flooded. [7]

Conservation

Melaleuca phoidophylla is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

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<i>Melaleuca barlowii</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

Melaleuca carrii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub similar to Melaleuca pentagona, with "pom-pom" heads of pinkish flowers and sharply pointed leaves but it is generally smaller, lacks a groove in its leaves and retains its petals on the flowers for longer than that species.

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

Melaleuca clavifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub similar to Melaleuca tinkeri, with "pom-pom" heads of pinkish flowers and soft, silky hairs on the new growth but it has larger flower heads and its leaves are shorter, more club-shaped and have less distinct oil glands.

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

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Melaleuca lara is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area on the west coast of Western Australia. It is similar to Melaleuca ciliosa with its hairy young leaves and heads of yellow flowers ageing to red but there are fewer flowers in each head and the leaves are generally smaller.

<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 linguiformis</i> Species of shrub

Melaleuca linguiformis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a shrub with hairy new growth, small leaves and heads of white flowers similar to Melaleuca teuthidoides shorter sepals and more stamens in each flower.

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

Melaleuca sapientes is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with silky grey leaves and small heads of pinkish flowers in spring or early summer. The attractive, silvery foliage has made this melaleuca a popular garden plant under the incorrect name of Melaleuca holosericea, a similar but much rarer species.

Melaleuca similis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub, similar to Melaleuca stramentosa with its narrow, almost cylindrical leaves and heads of pink to purple flowers but lacks the matted, silky hairs on the young leaves and outer edge of the flower cup.

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

Melaleuca papillosa is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is one of the smallest species of Melaleuca, distinguished by its narrow, usually hairy, pimply leaves, small heads of pink to purple flowers surrounded by silky hairs and scattered rather than clustered fruits.

Melaleuca stramentosa is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, bushy shrub similar to Melaleuca similis with its cylindrical leaves and heads of pink to purple flowers but differs in have matted, woolly hairs around the flowers and on the young leaves.

<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.

<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.

References

  1. "Melaleuca phoidophylla". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  2. 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. 281. 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. p. 20. ISBN   1876334983.
  4. "Melaleuca phoidophylla". APNI. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 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): 894. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
  6. 1 2 "Melaleuca phoidophylla". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 396. ISBN   0646402439.