Dwarf-leaved honey-myrtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dwarf-leaved honey-myrtle |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
nanophylla
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The dwarf-leaved honey-myrtle (scientific name: Melaleuca nanophylla) is a special and rare plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes many plants like eucalyptus. This plant only grows naturally in two small areas in Australia: one in Western Australia and another in South Australia. It's easy to spot because of its tiny leaves that lie flat against its stems. It also has pretty small flowers that are white or light yellow.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The dwarf-leaved honey-myrtle can be a shrub or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) tall. Its leaves are smooth, meaning they don't have any hairs. The bark on its trunk can feel rough or like paper.
Leaves and Flowers
- Leaves: The leaves are tiny, arranged one after another along the stem. Each leaf is about 0.8 to 2.6 millimeters (0.03 to 0.10 inches) long and 0.6 to 1.2 millimeters (0.02 to 0.05 inches) wide. They are shaped like a broad oval and have a short, blunt tip.
- Flowers: The flowers are white or creamy yellow. They grow in small groups between the leaves. These flower heads are up to 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) across. Each head usually has 1 to 9 smaller groups of flowers, often in sets of three. The petals are about 1.4 to 1.7 millimeters (0.05 to 0.07 inches) long. Inside each flower, there are five groups of stamens (the parts that make pollen), with 6 to 12 stamens in each group.
When it Flowers and Fruits
The main time for this plant to flower is in early spring. After the flowers bloom, they turn into woody, cup-shaped fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 2 to 2.3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.09 inches) long.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1979 by a botanist named John Carrick. He wrote about it in a science journal called Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. He found a sample of the plant about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of a place called Emu.
The scientific name nanophylla comes from two ancient Greek words:
- nânos means "dwarf"
- phýllon means "leaf"
So, nanophylla means "dwarf-leaved," which perfectly describes the plant's tiny leaves!
Where it Lives
The dwarf-leaved honey-myrtle grows in the Emu area of South Australia. In Western Australia, you can find it in the Van Linden Lakes area, which is part of the Gibson Desert. This plant likes to grow near clay pans, in soils that have gypsum or chalk, and in sandy clay.
Protecting the Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife lists Melaleuca nanophylla as a "Priority Three" plant. This means:
- It is not very well known.
- It is found in only a few places.
- It is not in immediate danger of disappearing.
However, because it is rare and only grows in specific spots, it is still important to keep an eye on it and protect its habitat.
