Wongan melaleuca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wongan melaleuca |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
sciotostyla
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The Melaleuca sciotostyla, often called the Wongan melaleuca, is a special plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, which includes many familiar trees and shrubs. This plant is found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It is an endemic species, meaning it grows naturally nowhere else in the world.
Sadly, the Wongan melaleuca is an endangered plant. This means it is at high risk of becoming extinct. In 2001, scientists counted only 476 mature plants left. The Wongan melaleuca looks quite similar to another plant called Melaleuca haplantha. However, the Wongan melaleuca has thinner leaves and fewer stamens (the parts of a flower that produce pollen) in each flower.
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What Does the Wongan Melaleuca Look Like?
The Wongan melaleuca is a shrub that can grow up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. Its leaves are arranged in a very neat pattern. They grow in pairs, with each pair set at a right angle to the pairs above and below it. This arrangement makes the leaves form four straight rows along the stems.
Each leaf is quite small, measuring about 6 to 12.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. They are also narrow, about 0.8 to 2.2 millimeters (0.03 to 0.09 inches) wide. The leaves are shaped like a line or a narrow oval. They feel a bit fleshy and have a pointed tip.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the Wongan melaleuca are a lovely cream to white color. They grow in small clusters at the ends of the branches. These branches often keep growing even after the plant has flowered. Sometimes, flowers also appear where the upper leaves meet the stem.
Each flower cluster can be up to 17 millimeters (0.7 inches) across. It usually contains up to four individual flowers. Inside each flower, the stamens are grouped into five bundles. There are typically 12 to 17 stamens in each bundle. The Wongan melaleuca mostly flowers in early spring.
After the flowers bloom, they turn into fruits. These fruits are like small, barrel-shaped capsules. They are papery or corky and measure about 5 to 5.5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long.
How Was it Named?
The Wongan melaleuca was first officially described in 1988. A scientist named Bryan Barlow gave it its scientific name, Melaleuca sciotostyla. This name was published in a scientific journal called Australian Systematic Botany.
The second part of its scientific name, sciotostyla, comes from Ancient Greece. The word skiotos means "shaded by gradation in color." This refers to the tip of the flower's style (a part of the female reproductive organ), which looks like it has been dyed with different shades.
Where Does it Live?
The Wongan melaleuca is found only in a few specific areas of Western Australia. These areas include the districts of Cadoux, Wongan Hills, and Meckering. These places are part of the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.
This plant prefers to grow in certain types of soil. You can find it in clayey sand and a reddish soil called laterite. It often grows on scree slopes, which are hillsides covered in loose rocks and debris.
Why is it Endangered?
The Wongan melaleuca is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is very close to extinction in the wild. The Government of Western Australia also lists it as "Declared Rare and Priority Flora."
This special listing means the plant is likely to become extinct or very rare. Because of this, it needs extra protection to help it survive. Efforts are being made to conserve this unique plant and protect its natural habitats.
