Melaleuca atroviridis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca atroviridis |
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| M. atroviridis at the type locality near Goomalling. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
atroviridis
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The Melaleuca atroviridis is a special plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant used to be thought of as part of another species, Melaleuca uncinata. But after scientists studied it more closely, they found it was a unique species!
Like M. uncinata, this plant is often used to make brushwood fences. It has fewer stamens (the parts of a flower that make pollen) and slightly smaller fruit clusters. However, it still has the same cool needle-like leaves with a hooked end. In early summer, you can see spikes of creamy yellow flowers.
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About the Melaleuca atroviridis
The Melaleuca atroviridis is a big shrub that can grow up to 12 meters (about 39 feet) tall. It has dark bark that peels off in papery flakes. Its leaves usually point upwards and are almost round. They are about 22 to 56 millimeters (0.9 to 2.2 inches) long and very thin, about 0.6 to 1.4 millimeters (0.02 to 0.06 inches) wide. The tips of the leaves have a cool hooked shape.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this plant are cream or yellow. They grow in spikes, with each spike holding 5 to 27 groups of three flowers. These spikes are about 15 to 17 millimeters (0.6 to 0.7 inches) across. The petals are small, about 1.3 to 1.6 millimeters (0.05 to 0.06 inches) long, and they fall off when the flower opens.
The stamens are grouped into five bundles around the flower. Each bundle has about 7 to 11 stamens. The plant blooms from December to February. After the flowers, woody fruits called capsules grow. These fruits pack together so tightly that they form a cylinder about 5.4 to 8.5 millimeters (0.21 to 0.33 inches) wide.
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How it Got its Name
Scientists Lyndley Craven and Brendan Lepschi first officially described the Melaleuca atroviridis in 2004. They wrote about it in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany. The plant they studied was found near Goomalling.
The name atroviridis comes from two Latin words. Ater means "black," and viridis means "green." This name was chosen because the leaves of this plant are a very dark green color.
Where it Grows
This melaleuca plant can be found in many areas of Western Australia. It grows in places like Coorow, Perenjori, Wubin, and Yellowdine. You can also find it near Beaufort River, Pingrup, and Varley.
It likes to grow in woodlands, shrublands, and even salty areas called samphire. It can grow in different types of soil, including those that have been damaged.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that this species is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
Uses of the Plant
The Melaleuca atroviridis is one of the plants used to make brushwood fencing. Sometimes, people even grow it on purpose for this reason. Tests have shown that it grows very well in sandy soil that is a bit salty. However, it doesn't grow as well in salty clay or loam soils.
