Grove's paperbark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grove's paperbark
Melaleuca groveana leaves, flowers and fruit
Scientific classification
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	groveana

Melaleuca groveana, also known as Grove's paperbark, is a special plant. It belongs to the myrtle family. You can find it only in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. This plant is not very common. It has beautiful white flowers that bloom in spring. The flowers have long styles, which are parts of the plant's reproductive system. These styles are much longer than the stamens, which produce pollen.

What Grove's Paperbark Looks Like

Grove's paperbark is a large shrub or a small tree. It can grow to be about 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet) tall. Its bark feels like paper or is very fibrous.

Leaves of the Plant

The leaves of this plant grow one after another along the stems. They are narrow and shaped like an ellipse. Each leaf is about 10 to 55 millimeters (0.4 to 2.2 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 10 millimeters (0.1 to 0.4 inches) wide. The leaves get narrower towards the end, forming a point. Each leaf has a short stalk, about 1.5 to 3 millimeters (0.06 to 0.1 inches) long. You can easily see a main vein in the middle of the leaf. There are also several smaller veins branching off to the sides.

Flowers and Fruit

The white flowers of Grove's paperbark grow in groups called spikes. These spikes are up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) long. They appear at the ends of branches. The branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom. Sometimes, flowers also grow where a leaf meets the stem. Each spike has 3 to 16 flowers. They are loosely arranged and can be up to 35 millimeters (1.4 inches) wide. The petals are small, about 3.5 to 3.8 millimeters (0.14 to 0.15 inches) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. The stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, are grouped into five bundles. Each bundle has 11 to 26 stamens. The plant flowers in early spring. However, the flowers do not last for a very long time. After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cup or a barrel. They are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.20 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16 to 0.28 inches) wide. You can find these fruits spaced out along the branches.

How Grove's Paperbark Got Its Name

The scientific name Melaleuca groveana was first officially described in 1925. This was done by two scientists, Edwin Cheel and Cyril Tenison White. They wrote about it in a scientific paper called Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. The second part of the name, groveana, was chosen to honor C.H. Grove. He was a clergyman from Queensland. He was also the person who collected the very first plant sample of this species. This first sample is called the type specimen.

Where Grove's Paperbark Grows

Grove's paperbark grows in different places, not all together in one big area. You can find it from the Port Stephens area in New South Wales. It also grows up to the Bluff area in Queensland. It likes to grow in areas with low, shrubby plants called heath. It also grows in woodlands where there are many trees and a layer of heath plants underneath. You often find it in higher places. These spots are usually open to the wind on rocky ridges and outcrops. Sometimes, it grows on small hills near the coast.

Threats to Grove's Paperbark

Some groups of Grove's paperbark plants that grow near the coast are in danger. They face competition from a plant called bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera). This bitou bush is a weed that was brought to Australia from another place. It can grow very fast and take over the space that Grove's paperbark needs.

Protecting Grove's Paperbark

This plant is considered "vulnerable" in New South Wales. This means it could become endangered if we don't protect it. In Queensland, it is listed as "near threatened." This means it might become threatened in the future. It was also listed as "rare" in a special book in 1997. This book, the IUCN red book, lists plants that are in danger around the world.

Growing Grove's Paperbark

Grove's paperbark is a strong plant. It is easy to grow new plants from its seeds. It can be used as a "screening plant." This means you can plant it to create a natural fence or screen. Unlike many other plants in the melaleuca family, this one is quite good at handling dry conditions. Once it has grown a bit and settled into its new home, it doesn't need a lot of water.

Images for kids

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  M. groveana in the Australian National Botanic Gardens

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  M. groveana Inflorescence detail