Melaleuca sheathiana facts for kids

Melaleuca sheathiana, also called boree, is a special plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes plants like eucalyptus. You can only find this plant in central and south-western Western Australia. It looks a bit like another plant called Melaleuca pauperiflora, but its leaves are small and shaped like tiny spoons.

What Does Boree Look Like?

Melaleuca sheathiana can be a shrub or a small tree. It can grow up to about 7 m (20 ft) tall. Its bark feels like paper.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are small, only about 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and 0.9–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) wide. They are shaped like a narrow spoon and are almost round if you cut them in half. The tip of each leaf is rounded or blunt.

The flowers are usually cream or white. They grow in small groups or short spikes. Each spike has between 4 and 11 individual flowers. The spikes can be up to 15 mm (0.6 in) across. Inside each flower, there are five groups of stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. Each group has 9 to 14 stamens.

Fruit and Seeds

Boree mostly flowers in spring. After the flowers, small, woody fruits grow. These fruits are called capsules. They are about 2.8–4.1 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and grow in clusters along the stem.

Naming the Boree Plant

Melaleuca sheathiana was first officially described in 1902. This was done by a person named William Fitzgerald. He wrote about it in a science journal.

Why the Name "Sheathiana"?

The second part of its scientific name, sheathiana, honors Jeremiah Sheath. He was an early manager of King's Park in Perth. The common name, boree or booree, comes from the Noongar people. This is their traditional name for the plant.

Where Does Boree Grow?

Boree can be found in several areas of Western Australia. These include places near Lake Barlee, Lake Cronin, and Rawlinna. It grows in different types of soil, like sandy, clayey, or loamy soils. You can often find it on stony hillsides and sand dunes.

Is Boree Protected?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Melaleuca sheathiana. They have decided that it is "not threatened," which means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.

How People Use Boree

Boree is a useful plant for several reasons.

Gardening and Landscaping

This plant is good for gardening, especially in places with a mild climate. It can be used to create hedges or windbreaks. A windbreak is a line of trees or shrubs that helps block strong winds. Boree grows well in most soils that drain water easily. It can also handle frost, which means it won't be damaged by cold temperatures.

Special Oils from Leaves

The leaves of the boree plant contain special liquids called essential oils. The two most common oils found in its leaves are alpha-Pinene and 1,8-cineole. These oils give the plant its unique smell.