Melaleuca phratra facts for kids

Melaleuca phratra is a plant that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is found only in Queensland, Australia. Some plant experts in Australia also call it Callistemon phratra. This plant is a large shrub, similar to the Melaleuca paludicola. However, Melaleuca phratra has pretty pink flowers.

What it Looks Like

Melaleuca phratra grows as a large shrub or a small tree. It can reach up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. Its bark is hard and can be brown, grey, or black. The bark often has cracks, which means it is "fissured."

Its leaves grow one after another along the stem, which is called "alternately arranged." The leaves are flat and narrow, shaped like an oval. They are usually between 22 and 57 millimeters (about 1 to 2 inches) long. They are also about 1.2 to 5 millimeters (less than a quarter of an inch) wide. Each leaf has a main vein down the middle. You might also see tiny bumps on the leaves. These are special oil glands that hold the plant's natural oils.

The flowers grow in spikes at the ends or sides of the branches. Each spike is about 25 to 30 millimeters (about 1 inch) across. A single spike can have 10 to 30 individual flowers. The petals of each flower are small, about 2 to 3.8 millimeters long. They fall off as the flower gets older. Each flower has many stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen. There are usually 47 to 72 stamens in each flower. The thin parts of the stamens, called filaments, are pink. The tips of the stamens, called anthers, are yellow.

Melaleuca phratra usually flowers from November to February. After the flowers bloom, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are called capsules. They are small, about 3.1 to 3.7 millimeters long.

How it Got its Name

The plant Melaleuca phratra was first officially described in 2009. This was done by a scientist named Lyndley Craven. He published his description in a science journal called Novon.

The second part of the plant's name, phratra, comes from an ancient Greek word. This word means "clan" or "brotherhood." It was chosen because this plant looks very similar to some of its "cousins." These include M. paludicola, M. quercina, and M. sabrina.

Sometimes, you might see this plant called Callistemon phratra. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also considers Callistemon phratra to be the same plant as Melaleuca phratra.

Where it Grows

This type of melaleuca plant is found in Queensland, Australia. It grows in the areas between the towns of Injune and Texas. You can often find it growing along the banks of creeks.