Melaleuca podiocarpa

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Melaleuca podiocarpa
Melaleuca podiocarpa (leaves, flowers).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. podiocarpa
Binomial name
Melaleuca podiocarpa

Melaleuca podiocarpa is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with prickly foliage and small heads of white flowers mostly hidden within the foliage.

Contents

Description

Melaleuca podiocarpa is a shrub growing to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged alternately, 4.5–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long, 1.5–6 mm (0.06–0.2 in) wide, elliptic to egg-shaped, crescent moon-shaped in cross section and the end tapering to a sharp, prickly point. [1] [2]

The flowers are white, in small heads on the ends and sides of the branches. The heads contain up to 3 individual flowers. The outer surface of the flower cup (the hypanthium) is hairy. The petals are 4.5–5.5 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 30 to 45 stamens. Flowering occurs from mid spring to mid summer, and is followed by fruit which are solitary, woody, cup-shaped capsules, 3.8–7.7 mm (0.1–0.3 in). [1] [2]

Habit near Lake Grace Melaleuca podiocarpa (habit).JPG
Habit near Lake Grace
Fruit Melaleuca podiocarpa (fruits).JPG
Fruit
Bark Melaleuca podiocarpa (bark).JPG
Bark

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca podiocarpa was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected on the Lake King to Norseman road. [3] [4] The specific epithet (podiocarpa) is derived from ancient Greek words podos meaning “foot” and karpos meaning "fruit" referring to the foot like base of the fruiting capsules. [1]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in and between the Lake King and Grass Patch districts in the Mallee biogeographic region where it grows in sand, gravel or clay on plains. [1] [5] [6]

Conservation status

Melaleuca podiocarpa is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [5]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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<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.

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

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

Melaleuca thapsina is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub with fibrous or papery bark, yellow to cream coloured flowers and tightly packed cylinders of fruiting capsules.

Melaleuca venusta is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the west coast of Western Australia. It is a shrub with silvery leaves and heads of pink to purple flowers which fade to white and with a restricted distribution, north of the Murchison River district.

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

Melaleuca cliffortioides is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, prickly shrub very similar to Melaleuca podiocarpa but with fewer stamens in the flowers.

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

Melaleuca spectabilis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was formerly known as a subspecies of Melaleuca longistaminea. It is a low, prickly shrub with yellow or lime-green flowers in spring and early summer.

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

Melaleuca torquata is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub whose leaves have a distinct mid-vein on the lower surface and which has heads of pinkish white flowerheads in early spring.

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

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.

Melaleuca calcicola is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It was formerly known as a subspecies of Melaleuca apodocephala but was reassessed in 2010 and raised to species status. Its branches are corky, the leaves pointed although not prickly and the flowers are creamy white, tipped with yellow.

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. 286. 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. 220–221. ISBN   1876334983.
  3. "Melaleuca podiocarpa". APNI. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  4. 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): 898. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
  5. 1 2 "Melaleuca podiocarpa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 396. ISBN   0646402439.