Melaleuca rugulosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet bottlebrush |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
|
| Species: |
rugulosa
|
| Synonyms | |
The scarlet bottlebrush, also known as Melaleuca rugulosa, is a beautiful plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant grows only in South Australia and Victoria, Australia. It is a type of bush that can look a bit messy. Its leaves are stiff and have sharp points. In summer, it grows bright red flowers that look like a bottlebrush. These flowers often have yellow tips.
Contents
What the Scarlet Bottlebrush Looks Like
The scarlet bottlebrush is a bush that can grow up to 5 m (20 ft) tall. It often has an open, spreading shape. Its bark is grey and peels off.
Leaves of the Plant
The leaves of this plant grow one after another along the stem. They are 21–86 mm (0.8–3 in) long and 2.5–8.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. The leaves are flat, thick, and stiff. They are shaped like a narrow oval or an egg, with the narrower end at the bottom. Each leaf has a sharp point. You can see a main vein in the middle and veins along the edges. There are also 7 to 13 other veins that are harder to see. When the leaves and branches are young, they often have soft, silky hairs.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the scarlet bottlebrush are red to purple. Their tips are yellow. They grow in spikes around the branches. These spikes are 40–65 mm (2–3 in) across and 50–80 mm (2–3 in) long. Each spike has between 18 and 60 individual flowers. The petals are 4.4–6.8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. Each flower has many stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen. There are 34 to 63 stamens in each flower.
The plant usually flowers from November to December. Sometimes it flowers in other months too. After flowering, it grows woody fruits. These fruits are called capsules. They are 4.5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
How the Plant Got Its Name
The scarlet bottlebrush was first given its scientific name, Melaleuca rugulosa, in 2006. This happened when the plant, previously known as Callistemon rugulosus, was moved into the Melaleuca group. It was first officially described in 1822. At that time, it was called Metrosideros rugulosa.
The second part of its scientific name, rugulosa, comes from a Latin word. The Latin word ruga means "crease" or "wrinkle". It is not clear why this name was chosen for the plant.
Where the Scarlet Bottlebrush Grows
This type of Melaleuca plant is found in the southeastern part of South Australia. It also grows in western Victoria. You can find it in areas with mallee scrubs. It also grows in open woodlands.
Specific Locations
The scarlet bottlebrush lives in places like the northern Grampians. It is also found in the Big Desert and the Little Desert. You can see it in the Mount Lofty Ranges as well. In these areas, it often grows in sandy dips in the ground. It also likes to grow near watercourses, where the soil is wet during certain times of the year. It thrives in bushland and forests close to swamps and streams.
