Melaleuca calycina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca calycina |
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Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Melaleuca
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Species: |
calycina
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Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca calycina is a type of shrub that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a tall, upright shrub with leaves that look like ovals or hearts. It has pretty white flowers and cool star-shaped fruits.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Melaleuca calycina can grow up to about 3 meters (10 feet) tall. It has bark that feels rough and corky.
Its leaves are usually between 5 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. They are also about 2.9 to 6.8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide. The leaves are arranged in a special way, with pairs of leaves crossing each other.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this plant are white or cream-colored. They grow either by themselves or in small groups. You might find them at the ends of branches or where leaves join the stem.
Each flower has brown, papery parts called bracts at its base. The plant's stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, are grouped into 5 bundles. Each bundle has about 22 to 25 stamens.
Melaleuca calycina usually flowers from July to October. Most of its flowers appear in September. After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits called capsules. These fruits are about 5 to 5.9 millimeters (0.20 to 0.23 inches) long. They have long, curved teeth that are actually parts of the flower called sepals.
How It Got Its Name
The plant Melaleuca calycina was first officially described in 1812. This was done by a botanist named Robert Brown. He wrote about it in a book called Hortus Kewensis.
The second part of its name, calycina, comes from a Greek word. "Kalyx" means calyx, which is the group of sepals that protect a flower bud.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
This type of melaleuca plant is found in several areas of Western Australia. You can see it from the Stirling Range all the way to Cape Arid. It grows in regions known as Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, and Mallee.
It can grow in many different kinds of soil. You might find it on flat ground, on rocky areas called laterite, or even at the edges of swamps.
Is This Plant Safe?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has checked on Melaleuca calycina. They have listed it as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.