Melaleuca ochroma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca ochroma |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: |
M. ochroma
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| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca ochroma Lepschi
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Melaleuca ochroma is a special kind of plant that belongs to the myrtle family. It's found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant looks a lot like another plant called Melaleuca subfalcata. The main differences are how long its stamens (the parts that make pollen) and styles (the parts that receive pollen) are. Just like M. subfalcata, it has pretty pink to light purple flowers. When its leaves are young, they are quite hairy, but as they grow older, they become smooth.
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What Melaleuca ochroma Looks Like
Melaleuca ochroma is a bush that can grow up to about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. It has tough, stringy bark. Its leaves start out as narrow oval shapes and are covered with soft hairs. As they get older, the leaves become smooth and turn into a more linear shape. They are also slightly curved like a dish and have a sharp point at the end.
Leaves and Flowers
Mature leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are about 13 to 19 millimeters (about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch) long. They are also very thin, about 1.0 millimeter (less than a tenth of an inch) wide.
The flowers are pink when they first open, but then they fade to a pale purple color. They grow in spikes about 13 to 19 millimeters (about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch) wide. These spikes appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each spike has between 17 and 35 individual flowers.
The petals of the flowers are about 2.4 to 3.5 millimeters (about a tenth of an inch) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. The stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, are grouped into five bundles around the flower. Each bundle has 13 to 24 stamens. The stamens are about 4.3 to 7.2 millimeters long. The styles, which are the parts that receive pollen, are about 6.5 to 7.2 millimeters long. In the similar plant Melaleuca subfalcata, both the stamens and styles are longer.
When it Blooms
Melaleuca ochroma flowers in the late spring. After the flowers bloom, they turn into woody, cup-shaped fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 3 to 4.4 millimeters (about a tenth of an inch) long and have a fairly smooth edge.
How it Got its Name
Melaleuca ochroma was first officially described as a new species in the year 2000. This was done by a scientist named Brendan Lepschi. The second part of its name, ochroma, comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning "pallor" or "paleness." This refers to the light color of its flowers.
Where it Grows
Melaleuca ochroma is found in the area around Mount Holland and Hyden in Western Australia. This region is part of what scientists call the Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions. These are areas with similar plants, animals, and climates.
How it's Protected
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife lists Melaleuca ochroma as "Priority Three" flora. This means that the plant is only known to grow in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
