Melaleuca polycephala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca polycephala |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
polycephala
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Melaleuca polycephala is a type of shrub that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This plant is special because it only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a thin, twiggy shrub with not many leaves, but it has beautiful deep purple flowers that bloom in spring.
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What Melaleuca polycephala Looks Like
Melaleuca polycephala is a bushy shrub with branches that can get tangled. It usually grows to about 1 m (3 ft) tall and wide. Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are about 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 2–4.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The leaves are narrow and shaped like an egg, with a sharp point at the end. You can see the veins clearly on the top surface of the leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Melaleuca polycephala grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers have bloomed. Each cluster has between 3 and 7 groups of flowers, with three flowers in each group. The whole flower cluster can be up to 12 mm (0.5 in) across.
The flowers have five bundles of stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. Each bundle contains three stamens. This plant mostly flowers in September and October. After flowering, it produces small, woody fruits called capsules. These capsules are about 2.0–2.8 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and grow in round clusters.
Naming and History
The plant Melaleuca polycephala was first officially described in 1867. This was done by a botanist named George Bentham in his book Flora Australiensis.
What Its Name Means
The second part of its name, polycephala, comes from two old Greek words. The word polús means "many," and kephalḗ means "head." So, polycephala means "many heads." This name refers to the many flower heads you can see on this plant.
Where It Grows
This type of melaleuca plant is found in a specific area of Western Australia. You can see it in and around the towns of Gnowangerup, Pingrup, and Jerramungup. These areas are part of the Esperance Plains and Mallee regions. Melaleuca polycephala likes to grow in clay and sandy clay soils.
Protecting the Plant
Melaleuca polycephala is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means that the plant is only found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. The department keeps an eye on these plants to make sure they stay safe.
