Kingaroy bottlebrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kingaroy bottlebrush |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
formosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Callistemon formosus S.T.Blake |
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The Melaleuca formosa, often called the Kingaroy bottlebrush or cliff bottlebrush, is a cool plant from the myrtle family. It's special because it only grows in a small part of Queensland and a tiny bit of New South Wales, Australia. This shrub has branches that hang down and bright lemon-coloured flowers that bloom in spring. Some plant experts still call it Callistemon formosus.
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What Does the Kingaroy Bottlebrush Look Like?
The Kingaroy bottlebrush is a shrub that can grow quite wide. It usually reaches about 2–6 m (7–20 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are 35–86 mm (1–3 in) long and 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide. They are flat and shaped like a narrow egg or ellipse. You can often see tiny oil glands and many small veins on them.
The flowers are usually white, cream, or lime-green. They grow in spikes at the ends of branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom. The flower spikes are about 45 mm (2 in) across and have 20 to 40 individual flowers. Each flower has petals that are 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long. These petals fall off as the flower gets older. Every flower also has many stamens, which are tipped with yellow. You can see these flowers throughout the year, but they are most common in spring. After flowering, the plant produces woody capsules, which are its fruits. These fruits are about 3.8–5.4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.
How Did the Kingaroy Bottlebrush Get Its Name?
This plant was first officially described in 1958. A scientist named S.T.Blake gave it the name Callistemon formosus. He found a sample of the plant near Kingaroy in Queensland. The second part of its scientific name, formosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "beautiful" or "handsome," which describes how lovely the plant looks.
Later, in 2006, another scientist named Lyndley Craven suggested that Callistemon plants should be grouped with Melaleuca plants. So, the Kingaroy bottlebrush got a new name: Melaleuca formosa. However, not all plant experts agree with this change. Some still prefer to use the old name, Callistemon formosus. But the Queensland Herbarium and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew do use the new name.
Where Does the Kingaroy Bottlebrush Grow?
You can find the Kingaroy bottlebrush in areas close to the coast in southeastern Queensland. It likes to grow in vine forests. Sometimes, it grows as a smaller plant under taller eucalypt trees. It prefers to grow in loam or sandy soil that is found over a type of rock called trachyte.
Is the Kingaroy Bottlebrush in Danger?
The Government of Queensland has a law called the Nature Conservation Act (1992). Under this law, the Melaleuca formosa is listed as "near threatened." This means that while it's not in immediate danger of disappearing, its numbers are getting low. It needs to be watched carefully to make sure it stays safe.
How People Use the Kingaroy Bottlebrush
The Kingaroy bottlebrush is a popular plant for growing in gardens and public spaces. For example, it's used as a street tree in Kingaroy. It's also a good choice for planting under power lines because it doesn't grow too tall. Scientists have found that this plant is quite strong against a fungal disease called myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii).
