Melaleuca platycalyx | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Melaleuca |
Species: | M. platycalyx |
Binomial name | |
Melaleuca platycalyx | |
Melaleuca platycalyx is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, twiggy shrub with short spikes of purple or pink flowers in spring. The distinguishing features of this species include petals that are bent downwards, an unusually large number of stamens in each flower and unusually large fruits arranged in alternating pairs.
Melaleuca platycalyx is a spreading, glabrous shrub which grows to a height and width of about 1.5 metres (5 ft). Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that there are four rows of leaves along the branches. Each leaf is 5.0–10.4 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long and 2.4–5.5 millimetres (0.09–0.2 in) wide, elliptical in shape with a short point on the end and with distinct veins and oil glands. [1]
The flowers are a shade of pink or purple and are arranged in short spikes which develop from the sides of the branches. The spikes contain 2 to 4 individual flowers and are up to 16 millimetres (0.6 in) in diameter. The petals are 3–4 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long, folded downwards and fall off as the flower matures. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 25 to 36 stamens. Flowering mostly occurs in spring and early summer and is followed by the fruits which are woody capsules 4–6 millimetres (0.2–0.2 in) long, about 8 millimetres (0.3 in) in diameter and fused with the branches. [1] [2]
Melaleuca platycalyx was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. [3] [4] The specific epithet (platycalyx) is derived from the Ancient Greek words πλατύς (platús) meaning "flat" [5] :167 and kalyx meaning "cup", "cover" or "outer envelope of a flower", [5] :181 apparently referring to the shape of the hypanthium. [1]
Melaleuca platycalyx occurs in and between the Latham, Ongerup and Lake King districts [1] [2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions. [6] It grows in sandy and gravelly soils on sandplains and near granite rocks. [7]
This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]
This species is only known in cultivation in a few places but is a moderately hardy plant in areas with lower humidity than the east coast of Australia. Other purple-flowered melaleucas may be more attractive but the foliage and fruits are features. [2] [8]
Banksia purdieana is a species of bushy shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has broadly linear, pinnatipartite leaves with sharply-pointed lobes on the sides, yellow flowers in heads of about eighty and egg-shaped follicles.
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Eremophila chamaephila, commonly known as earth-loving poverty bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, dense, spreading shrub with small, fleshy leaves and mauve to purple flowers.
Eremophila georgei is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a common, widespread shrub in central areas of the state, often growing on rocky ridges and hillsides and has serrated leaves and mauve, purple or pink flowers.
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Kunzea montana, commonly known as mountain kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with more or less round leaves and heads of cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers on the ends of the branches in late spring. It is an uncommon species, growing on rocky mountain slopes, but all populations are conserved in the Stirling Range National Park.
Conothamnus neglectus is a member of the family Myrtaceae endemic to Western Australia. This open shrub typically grows to a height of 0.2 to 1.0 metre. It blooms in between July and September producing yellow flowers.
Boronia purdieana is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnate leaves and yellow, four-petalled flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.
Boronia fabianoides is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact shrub with many branches, simple, more or less cylindrical leaves and single white, pink or pale blue four-petalled flowers in the leaf axils.
Philotheca tomentella is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an undershrub with small club-shaped to cylindrical leaves and white flowers with a pale red central stripe, arranged singly or in groups of up to four on the ends of branchlets.
Teucrium eremaeum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a perennial herb or shrub with small, linear to lance-shaped leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.