Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet honey myrtle |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
M. f. subsp. steedmanii
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| Trinomial name | |
| Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii (C.A.Gardner) K.J.Cowley
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The Scarlet Honey Myrtle (scientific name: Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii) is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia.
In 1990, scientists divided the Melaleuca fulgens plant into three different types, called subspecies. The Scarlet Honey Myrtle is one of these types. It grows mostly near a town called Geraldton. Like its relatives, this plant is known for its bright, eye-catching flowers. They are usually red, but its leaves and fruits are also very attractive.
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What the Scarlet Honey Myrtle Looks Like
The Scarlet Honey Myrtle is a woody shrub. It can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can also spread out to be 3 meters wide. Its small branches are smooth, meaning they have no hairs.
The leaves are a pretty blue-green color. They grow in a special way, in alternating pairs. This means the leaves are arranged in four neat rows along the stems. Each leaf is about 10 to 40 millimeters (0.4 to 1.6 inches) long. They are narrow and egg-shaped, with a small point at the end. Sometimes, the edges of the leaves curl under. This makes them look even thinner.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers are usually bright red. But you might also see them in other shades of red, pink, or even white. They grow in spikes along the sides of the branches. Each spike is about 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) across and 40 millimeters long.
A single spike can have 6 to 20 individual flowers. Each flower has many stamens, which are like tiny threads. These stamens are grouped into five bundles. Each bundle holds between 22 and 80 stamens. The stamens are about 7.5 to 13 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long.
The Scarlet Honey Myrtle usually flowers from July to December. The best time to see them is often in September and October. After the flowers, woody fruits grow. These fruits are shaped like a squashed urn. They also grow in alternating pairs along the stems.
How It Got Its Name
The Scarlet Honey Myrtle was first officially described in 1928. A botanist named Charles Austin Gardner gave it the name Melaleuca steedmanii. This was published in a science journal.
Later, in 1990, a group of botanists studied the plant again. They decided that Melaleuca steedmanii was actually a type of Melaleuca fulgens. So, they renamed it Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii. The name steedmanii honors Henry Steedman. He was a Scottish-born Australian botanist who studied plants.
Where It Grows
The Scarlet Honey Myrtle grows in specific areas of Western Australia. You can find it between the Watheroo and Wannoo areas. These places are near Geraldton.
It likes to grow in open areas with small shrubs and grasses. It can be found in sand, loam, or a type of soil called lateritic soil. You might see it near granite rocks or on sandy plains.
Images for kids
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The fruit of the Scarlet Honey Myrtle.
