Melaleuca marginata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca marginata |
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| M. marginata growing 10 east of Ravensthorpe. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
marginata
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Melaleuca marginata is a type of shrub that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the southwestern part of Western Australia. You can spot it by its spiky leaves and its pretty flowers that grow in long sections along its branches. For many years, from 1922 to 2011, this plant was known by a different name, Melaleuca coronicarpa.
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What Melaleuca marginata Looks Like
Melaleuca marginata is a prickly shrub. It can grow up to about 2 m (7 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are mostly oval-shaped.
The leaves are about 5–14.6 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 1–6.6 mm (0.04–0.3 in) wide. If you cut a leaf in half, it would look like a crescent moon. Each leaf also has a sharp, pointed tip.
The flowers are white and grow in groups of up to 25. These groups appear along the sides of the branches. Each flower cluster can be up to 30 mm (1 in) across.
Inside the flower, the style (a part of the female reproductive organ) is 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The petals are 2.1–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. They fall off as the flower gets older.
The stamens (the male parts of the flower) are grouped into five bundles. Each bundle has between 10 and 22 stamens. This plant mainly flowers in early spring. After flowering, it produces woody capsules (fruits). These fruits are cup-shaped, and the sepals (leaf-like parts that protect the bud) stay on as five small teeth.
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How Melaleuca marginata Got Its Name
In 1922, a scientist named Desmond Herbert first described this plant and called it Melaleuca coronicarpa. However, in 2011, other scientists discovered something important. A plant formally described way back in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder as Astroloma marginatum was actually the same species.
Because Sonder's description was older, his name had "priority." This means his name for the plant had to be used. So, Michael Hislop, Brendan Lepschi, and Lyndley Craven officially renamed the plant Melaleuca marginata. The second part of the name, marginata, comes from a Latin word meaning "border" or "margin." This refers to the special edge or border on the plant's leaves.
Where Melaleuca marginata Grows
Melaleuca marginata is found in many areas of Western Australia. It grows from the Chapman Valley area in the north, all the way south to the Ongerup area. It also spreads east towards Koorda and Grass Patch.
You can find this plant in different types of soil, including sand (even sandy soil with laterite), loam, and clay. It likes to grow on sandy ridges, areas where laterite has worn away, and on gently rolling plains.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Melaleuca marginata is "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
Images for kids
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Habit 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Ravensthorpe
