Melaleuca microphylla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melaleuca microphylla
Melaleuca microphylla growing at Bettys Beach near Albany
Scientific classification
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	microphylla

Melaleuca microphylla is a special plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows naturally only in a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. This plant is a bushy shrub with tiny, packed-together leaves. It looks a lot like another plant, Melaleuca ericifolia, which is often grown in eastern Australia.

What it Looks Like

Melaleuca microphylla is a thick, round shrub that can grow about 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 feet) tall. Its leaves are smooth, meaning they don't have hairs. It has grey or white bark that feels like paper. The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are small, about 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters (0.01 to 0.02 inches) wide. They are shaped like a line or a narrow spear, with a blunt or slightly pointed tip.

The flowers are white to creamy yellow. They grow in small groups at the ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing. These flower groups can be up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) long and 22 millimeters (0.9 inches) wide. Each group has between 10 and 50 individual flowers. The petals are tiny, about 1.0 to 2.2 millimeters (0.04 to 0.09 inches) long, and they fall off as the flower gets older. The plant usually flowers in spring. After flowering, it produces woody, cup-shaped fruits called capsules. These fruits are 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They grow in loose groups along the stem.

How it Got its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1812 by a scientist named James Edward Smith. He wrote about it in a book called The Cyclopedia. The plant was found near King George's Sound in Western Australia by Archibald Menzies.

The second part of its scientific name, microphylla, comes from two old Greek words. Mikros means "little," and phyllon means "leaf." So, microphylla simply means "little leaf," which describes the plant's small leaves.

Where it Grows

Melaleuca microphylla is found in Western Australia, specifically between the Manjimup and Manypeaks areas. It grows in different natural regions like the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren. You can often find it growing in sandy clay soil near swamps and creeks.

Looking After the Plant

The government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Melaleuca microphylla is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants, and they are not in danger of disappearing.

Uses of the Plant

In Gardens

This plant is often used in gardens as a hedge or a screen to block views. It can grow well in most types of soil and in many different places.

Essential Oils

The leaves of Melaleuca microphylla contain a special oil. This oil is mostly made up of chemicals called monoterpenes.

Images for kids

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  M. microphylla leaves and flowers

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  M. microphylla fruit

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  M. microphylla bark