Melaleuca societatis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca societatis |
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| M. societatis leaves, flowers and fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
societatis
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Melaleuca societatis is a cool plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant is a small bush with tiny, thick leaves. In spring, it shows off many pink or purple flowers. After the flowers, you'll see round fruits that look like mini soccer balls!
Contents
About the Melaleuca Societatis Plant
Melaleuca societatis is a small shrub. It usually grows up to about 0.7 meters (2.3 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can reach 2 meters (6.6 feet) high.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are small, measuring about 3.5 to 8.5 millimeters (0.14 to 0.33 inches) long. They are also narrow, about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide. The leaves are shaped like thin lines or ovals. They are also a bit round when you look at them from the side.
The flowers are a beautiful deep pink or purple color. They grow in small bunches or short spikes. These flower bunches appear at the ends of branches. The branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom. Sometimes, flowers also grow where the leaves meet the stem.
Each flower bunch has 4 to 9 groups of three flowers. The whole bunch can be up to 12 millimeters (0.47 inches) wide. The petals are small, about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. Inside each flower, there are five groups of stamens. Each group has 3 to 6 stamens.
Flowering and Fruit
This plant blooms between August and January. After the flowers, it produces woody capsules. These capsules are like small seed pods. They are about 2.5 to 3 millimeters (0.10 to 0.12 inches) long. The capsules grow in tight, round clusters along the stem. These clusters look a lot like small soccer balls!
Plant Name and History
The plant Melaleuca societatis was officially named in 1999. Lyndley Craven described it in a science journal called Australian Systematic Botany. He found a sample of the plant about 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) south of Lake King.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its name, societatis, comes from a Latin word. "Societas" means "association" or "community". This name was chosen because of how the fruit clusters look. They remind people of an Association (soccer) football.
Where the Plant Grows
This type of melaleuca plant is found in several areas of Western Australia. You can find it around the Stirling Range, Jerramungup, Salmon Gums, and Israelite Bay districts.
It grows in different types of soil, like sand, clay, or loam. You will often see it in areas with mallee shrubland. Mallee shrubland is a type of bushland with many small, woody shrubs.
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Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants. They have listed Melaleuca societatis as "Not threatened". This means the plant is safe and not in danger of disappearing.
