Melaleuca oldfieldii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca oldfieldii |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
oldfieldii
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The Melaleuca oldfieldii is a special plant from the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. It grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. You can easily spot it by its bright yellow flowers. However, this plant is quite rare and only found in one national park.
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What Does Melaleuca Oldfieldii Look Like?
Melaleuca oldfieldii is a type of shrub that spreads out. It usually grows to about 2 m (7 ft) tall, but sometimes it can grow even taller.
Its leaves grow in a pattern where they take turns along the stems. Each leaf has a short stem and is shaped like an oval, getting narrower at the end. These leaves are usually 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 3.5–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. They also have five lines, or veins, running along their length.
Bright Yellow Flowers
The flowers of Melaleuca oldfieldii are a bright yellow color. They grow in large groups at the ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing.
These flower groups can be up to 35 mm (1 in) across. Each group has about 4 to 9 smaller sets of three flowers. The petals are small, about 1.8–3.8 mm (0.07–0.1 in) long, and they fall off as the flower opens.
Inside the flower, there are five groups of stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. Each group has 8 to 12 stamens. The plant mostly blooms in November. After flowering, it produces woody fruits called capsules. These capsules are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and grow in tight, round clusters about 25 mm (1 in) wide.
How Melaleuca Oldfieldii Got Its Name
The plant Melaleuca oldfieldii was first officially described in 1867. This was done by a scientist named George Bentham in his book "Flora Australiensis".
The second part of its name, oldfieldii, is a way to honor someone. It was named after Augustus Frederick Oldfield, who was the person who first collected this plant. He found it near the Murchison River.
Where Melaleuca Oldfieldii Lives
Melaleuca oldfieldii is found only in a specific area. It grows in the Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia. This park is part of a larger natural area called the Geraldton Sandplains.
You can usually find this plant growing in sand or sandy clay. It often prefers to grow along streams where the soil is just right.
Protecting Melaleuca Oldfieldii
This plant is considered quite rare. The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a "Priority Two" rating.
This means that not much is known about the plant. It is only found in one or a few places. This rating helps make sure people pay attention to it and work to protect it.
Uses of Melaleuca Oldfieldii
Growing the Plant
It has been quite hard to grow Melaleuca oldfieldii in gardens. It needs very specific conditions to survive. However, its shiny leaves and pretty yellow flowers show that it could be a beautiful plant for gardens. If you want to grow it, it needs soil that drains water very well.
Special Oils from the Leaves
The leaves of Melaleuca oldfieldii contain a lot of a special substance. This substance is called 1,8-cineole. It is a type of essential oil that can be found in many plants.
