Melaleuca eulobata facts for kids

Melaleuca eulobata is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in one specific area: the west coast of Western Australia. This makes it an endemic plant, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world!

This shrub looks a bit like another plant called Melaleuca campanae. Both have pretty pink flowers that bloom in late spring. But you can tell Melaleuca eulobata apart by its sepals. Sepals are like small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. In M. campanae, these sepals are tiny rings of tissue. But Melaleuca eulobata has clear, distinct sepal lobes, which are like little flaps.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Melaleuca eulobata is a shrub that can grow up to 2 m (7 ft) tall. Its young branches are covered with short, soft hairs, making them feel silky.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of this plant grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are about 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Each leaf is flat and shaped like a narrow egg, tapering to a point at the end. You can also see three parallel veins running through each leaf.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Melaleuca eulobata are a lovely purple color. They grow in round clusters at the ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing! Sometimes, you can also find flowers growing where the upper leaves meet the stem.

These flower clusters can be up to 22 mm (0.9 in) across. Each cluster is made up of 4 to 7 smaller groups, with three flowers in each group. The petals are small, only about 1–1.7 mm (0.04–0.07 in) long, and they fall off as the flower opens up. Inside the flower, there are five bundles of stamens (the parts that produce pollen), with 9 or 10 stamens in each bundle.

This plant mainly flowers in September and October. After the flowers, it produces woody capsules (which are like small seed pods). These capsules are 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long and grow in almost round clusters around the stem.

How It Got Its Name

The plant Melaleuca eulobata was officially described in 1999. This was done by a scientist named Lyndley Craven. He wrote about it in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany. The first plant specimen he studied was found on the road to Monkey Mia.

The second part of its scientific name, eulobata, comes from Ancient Greek words. "Eu-" means "well," "thoroughly," or "truly." And "lobos" means "lobe." This name was chosen because of the plant's clear and distinct sepal lobes, which are a key feature.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

This special melaleuca plant grows near Shark Bay in Western Australia. You can find it in two specific natural areas: the Carnarvon and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. It likes to grow in scrubland, which is a type of bushy area, especially in pebbly sand.

Is This Plant Safe?

Good news! Melaleuca eulobata is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.