Melaleuca trichophylla | |
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In Maranoa Gardens | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Melaleuca |
Species: | M. trichophylla |
Binomial name | |
Melaleuca trichophylla | |
Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca trichophylla is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its pink or purple flowers appear from August to December (late winter to early summer) in its native range. It has long been cultivated.
Melaleuca trichophylla a low, ground-hugging, spreading shrub growing to a height of 50 cm (20 in) or a more erect bushy shrub to 1.5 m (5 ft) with light grey bark. The leaves are arranged alternately and are 8–31.5 mm (0.3–1 in) long and 0.5–1.2 mm (0.02–0.05 in) wide, linear to tear-drop shape with the narrow end at the base. [1]
Its flowers are in heads at or near the ends of the branches in 2 to 12 groups, each group with three flowers. The heads are up to 35 mm (1 in) in diameter, coloured pink to purple or rich carmine, contrasting with the bright yellow anthers. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle having 5 to 11 stamens. The main flowering season is from August to December. The fruit are woody capsules in loose clusters, each fruit 2–4.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. [1] [2]
This species was first formally described in 1839 by John Lindley in A sketch of the vegetation of the Swan River Colony where he noted that "every twig ... is terminated by hemispherical heads of brilliant pink". [3] [4] The specific epithet (trichophylla) is from the Greek thrix meaning "hair" and phyllon meaning "leaf" in reference to the hairy leaves. [2] It is a member of Melaleuca , a large and diverse genus whose members range from large trees such as M. quinquenervia , to small shrubs. [5]
German botanist Otto Kuntze challenged many generic names in his 1891 work Revisio Generum Plantarum , republishing this species as Myrtoleucodendron trichophyllum as he claimed that Myrtoleucodendron Rumpf. (1742) predated Melaleuca L. (1767). [6] This was not upheld or recognised generally.
This melaleuca occurs from the Northampton district to the Busselton district [1] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions. [7] It grows in white, grey or orange sand over laterite on sandplains and hillsides. [8]
Melaleuca trichophylla is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]
Melaleuca trichophylla is a useful species in gardens because it is hardy and flowers profusely. [9] It is best suited to slightly acidic to alkaline soils with good drainage. [5] Some forms perform better than others. The showy, deep magenta form tends to be short-lived but another, which flowers in August is particularly adaptable. [1] This species can suffer grey mould ( Botrytis cinerea ) in wet or humid weather. [5]
Banksia candolleana, commonly known as the propeller banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has shiny green, deeply serrated leaves with triangular lobes and spikes of golden yellow flowers on short side branches.
Melaleuca radula, commonly known as graceful honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open, spreading shrub with narrow leaves, profuse pink or purple flowers in late winter and smooth, almost spherical fruits.
Banksia stuposa is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has hairy stems, broadly linear pinnatifid leaves, golden yellow and white flowers in heads of one hundred or more, and hairy, egg-shaped follicles.
Melaleuca beardii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to a number of other Western Australian melaleucas such as M. trichophylla with its purple pom-pom flower heads but unlike others, the tips of its leaves are rounded rather than pointed.
Melaleuca caeca is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to a number of other Western Australian melaleucas such as M. pentagona with its purple pom-pom flower heads but it is a smaller shrub with narrower leaves and smaller inflorescences.
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.
Melaleuca hollidayi is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with fine hairs like spider web on its leaves, and bright pink flowers.
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.
Melaleuca ryeae is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub, closely resembling Melaleuca amydra with its small leaves and profuse heads of pink to purple flowers but M.amydra has narrower leaves and does not have spherical clusters of fruits.
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.
Melaleuca urceolaris is a low, spreading shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Although it is rare in cultivation, it is an attractive garden plant due to its soft foliage and white flowers which fade to pink or red. It is similar to Melaleuca scabra with which it has often been confused.
Melaleuca parviceps, commonly known as rough honey-myrtle is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with varying shades of pink or purple flowers, the stamens tipped with yellow anthers. In describing it, John Lindley noted: "every twig ... is terminated by hemispherical heads of brilliant pink". It is similar to Melaleuca manglesii and Melaleuca seriata.
Melaleuca pentagona is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a showy, medium-sized shrub which produces large numbers of pink flowers in spring. There are three varieties recognised, one of which has been known in cultivation for many years.
Melaleuca psammophila is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves, heads of purple, pink or mauve flowers and clusters of woody fruit. It is similar to M. bisulcata but differs from that species in characters such as the shape of its fruit, leaves and buds but like that species is an attractive, profusely flowering shrub suitable for cultivation as a garden plant.
Melaleuca seriata is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. In describing it, John Lindley wrote "Melaleuca seriata, parviceps, and trichophylla, are bushes, every twig of which is terminated by hemispherical heads of a brilliant pink." It is very similar to Melaleuca parviceps.
Melaleuca striata is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It has distinctive leaves and heads of pink to mauve flowers, usually in late summer.
Melaleuca suberosa, commonly known as corky-bark honey-myrtle or corky honeymyrtle, is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a distinctive shrub, recognised by its tiny, crowded leaves, corky bark and pink flowers that appear along lengths of leafless parts of the branches.
Melaleuca teretifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with long, thin leaves and clusters of usually white flowers along considerable lengths of the branches in late spring and summer.
Melaleuca thyoides, commonly known as salt lake honey-myrtle is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with grey, papery or fibrous bark and very small, overlapping leaves on thin branchlets. It is a salt tolerant species often found on the edges of salt lakes.
Isopogon linearis is a small shrub in the family Proteaceae that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia.