Mallee honey-myrtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mallee honey-myrtle |
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| M. brevifolia growing near the Coorong | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
brevifolia
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The Mallee honey-myrtle (scientific name: Melaleuca brevifolia) is a cool shrub or small tree. It belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. You can find it growing naturally in parts of western Victoria, south-eastern South Australia, and the south-west of Western Australia. This plant has rough, corky bark. It also has lots of white to yellowish flowers that grow in groups. These flowers appear on the branches that grew in the year before. It's a tough plant that can be grown in gardens.
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What Does the Mallee Honey-Myrtle Look Like?
The Mallee honey-myrtle is usually a shrub. It can sometimes grow into a small tree. It can reach about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. It has rough, corky bark. Its branches and leaves are smooth. They are smooth except when they are very young.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves grow in pairs. Sometimes they grow in groups of three. They are about 2.4 to 8 millimeters (0.09 to 0.3 inches) long. They are also about 0.7 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide. Their shape is like a spear, but thinner at the bottom. They have blunt tips. If you look at the bottom of the leaves, you can see two rows of raised oil glands.
The flowers are white to yellowish in color. They grow in round clusters. These clusters are found on the branches that grew during the previous year. Each cluster can be up to 18 millimeters (0.7 inches) across. It holds up to six individual flowers. Inside each flower, there are five groups of stamens. Stamens are the parts that make pollen. Each group has 10 to 12 stamens. The main time for flowering is in spring. After the flowers, wrinkled, cup-shaped capsules grow. These capsules are about 3.3 to 4.2 millimeters (0.13 to 0.17 inches) long and wide. They hold the seeds.
Its Name and History
The scientific name Melaleuca brevifolia was first officially written down in 1852. This was done by a scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow. He wrote about it in a book called Repertorium Botanices Systematicae.
The second part of its name, brevifolia, comes from two Latin words. Brevis means "short." Folium means "leaf." So, brevifolia means "short-leaf." This name describes the plant's small leaves.
Where Does the Mallee Honey-Myrtle Grow?
This type of melaleuca grows in several areas of Australia. You can find it in the Mallee, Loddon, and Wimmera regions of Victoria. It also grows in the south-east of South Australia. And it is found in the south-west of Western Australia.
It likes to live in wet places. These include swampy areas or near salt lakes. It often grows in areas with heathlands (low, open shrubs) and shrublands (areas with many shrubs).
Is It Endangered?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has checked on this plant. They have listed it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
Growing It in Your Garden
The Mallee honey-myrtle is a fairly tough plant for gardens. It needs soil that drains water well. It also likes a sunny spot. This plant is good for tough conditions. It can grow in salty soils. It can also grow in soils that contain limestone.
