Melaleuca bracteosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melaleuca bracteosa
M. bracteosa foliage and flowers.
Scientific classification
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	bracteosa

Melaleuca bracteosa is a small, bushy plant that spreads out low to the ground. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is special because it only grows naturally in the southwest part of Western Australia. It has tiny, soft leaves that aren't prickly, and its flowers are usually creamy white.

Plant Description

Melaleuca bracteosa is usually a low, thick shrub that spreads out. It typically grows to about 0.5 m (2 ft) tall. Sometimes, it can grow taller, up to 1.5 metres (5 ft).

Its leaves are shaped like narrow ovals. They are between 2.7–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long and 0.9–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide. The leaves are smooth, bright green, and feel a bit fleshy. They also have a rounded, blunt tip.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Melaleuca bracteosa are usually a bright cream color. Sometimes, they can be white or even a pretty mauve-pink. These flowers grow in round clusters, called heads. Each flower head is about 16 mm (0.6 in) across.

You can find these flower heads at the ends of branches or along the sides of the stem. Each head holds about 5 to 20 individual flowers. Inside each flower, there are five groups of stamens. Stamens are the parts that make pollen. Each group has 3 to 8 stamens.

This plant blooms from August to November. After the flowers fade, they turn into woody fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 2.4–3.2 mm (0.09–0.1 in) long.

How it was Named

This plant was first officially described in 1847. A Russian botanist named Nikolai Turczaninow gave it its scientific name. He wrote about it in a science publication from Saint-Petersburg.

The second part of its scientific name, bracteosa, comes from a Latin word. "Bractea" means "bract". Bracts are small, leaf-like parts often found near flowers. This name refers to the bracts that stay on the flowers of this plant.

Where it Grows

This type of melaleuca plant is found in the southwest of Western Australia. It grows in an area stretching from the Pingrup district down to Albany. It also grows east towards Ravensthorpe.

You can find it in different natural areas, including the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee regions. It likes to grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. These areas are often flat and can get wet during winter. You might see it growing under smaller trees or taller shrubs.

Conservation Status

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Melaleuca bracteosa. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.

Uses

Essential Oils

This plant can produce special oils called sesquiterpene oils. These oils come from its fresh leaves. For every 100 grams of fresh leaves, about 0.3 grams of these oils can be extracted.

Images for kids

• 

  M. bracteosa growing at Cape Riche.

• 

  The fruit of M. bracteosa.