Melaleuca basicephala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca basicephala |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
basicephala
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Melaleuca basicephala is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia, which means it is endemic to that area. This plant is a shrub that is not seen very often. It likes to grow in thick, wet swamps in the far south-west corner of the state.
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What Melaleuca basicephala Looks Like
Melaleuca basicephala is a shrub that can grow to about 0.9 meters (about 3 feet) tall. Its branches are smooth and do not have any hairs.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are quite interesting. They grow in opposite pairs, but each pair is turned at a right angle to the one below it. This pattern is called decussate. The leaves are usually 8 to 12.5 millimeters (about half an inch) long and 1.8 to 2.5 millimeters wide. They are shaped like an oval or a tear-drop and also feel smooth.
The flowers of Melaleuca basicephala grow in small clusters, or "heads," on the branches that grew the year before. Each cluster can have between two and ten flowers and is about 10 millimeters (less than half an inch) across. The flowers have five groups of stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. Each group has 17 to 23 stamens that are a pretty pinkish-purple or mauve-pink color. This plant usually flowers from November to February. After flowering, it produces small fruits that are about 3 millimeters long.
How Melaleuca basicephala Got Its Name
The plant Melaleuca basicephala was first officially described in 1867. A scientist named George Bentham gave it its name in a book called Flora Australiensis.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its name, basicephala, comes from two old words. "Basis" is a Latin word meaning "base," and "cephalus" is a Greek word meaning "headed." This name was chosen because the flower clusters usually grow at the very bottom of the side shoots on the plant.
Where Melaleuca basicephala Lives
This plant is found in thick swamps in the areas around Augusta and Northcliffe in Western Australia. These areas are known as the Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions. It likes to grow in black, peaty sand and clay, especially in flat areas and swamps that get very wet during the winter.
Protecting Melaleuca basicephala
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Melaleuca basicephala a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Four." This means that the plant is rare or almost threatened, and it needs to be watched carefully to make sure its numbers do not drop too low.
