Melaleuca striata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melaleuca striata |
|
|---|---|
.JPG) |
|
| Leaves, flowers and fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
|
| Species: |
striata
|
Melaleuca striata is a special plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the southern part of Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. This plant is easy to spot because of its unique leaves and pretty pink to purple flowers. These flowers usually bloom in late summer.
Contents
What Melaleuca striata Looks Like
Melaleuca striata is a type of shrub that spreads out. It usually grows to be about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. It has bark that feels like paper and is grey or white.
Leaves of the Plant
The leaves of this plant grow one after another along the stem. They are usually about 6 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. They are thin and shaped like a line or a narrow oval. You can see three clear lines running along the leaves.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Melaleuca striata are pink or purple. They grow in groups at the ends of the branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing! Sometimes, flowers also appear where the leaves meet the stem.
These flower groups can be up to 17 millimeters (0.7 inches) wide and 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) long. Each group can have up to four smaller sets of three flowers. Inside each flower, there are five groups of tiny parts called stamens. Each group has 7 to 13 stamens.
The plant usually flowers from August to February, but mostly in early summer. After the flowers, the plant makes woody fruits. These fruits are like small, hard cases called capsules. They are about 3.5 to 4 millimeters (0.14 to 0.16 inches) long. They grow in oval or long clusters that can be up to 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide and 25 millimeters (1 inch) long.
.JPG)
How Melaleuca striata Got Its Name
The plant Melaleuca striata was first officially described in 1806. A French scientist named Jacques Labillardière gave it its name. He wrote about it in his book Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.
The second part of its name, striata, comes from a Latin word stria. This word means "furrow" or "channel." It describes how the leaves look like they have tiny grooves or lines on them.
Where Melaleuca striata Grows
This melaleuca plant is found along the coast of Western Australia. It grows in areas between Albany and Israelite Bay. You can also find it in national parks like Stirling Range and Cape Arid.
It likes to grow in areas with heath, shrubs, and scrub. It prefers sandy and gravelly soils.
Looking After Melaleuca striata
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Melaleuca striata is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
Growing Melaleuca striata in Gardens
Even though it can be a bit tricky to grow, M. striata is a beautiful plant for gardens. It often produces many pink to purple flowers, mostly from November to January. This makes it a very showy plant!
It is a tough plant if it has soil that drains water well and gets lots of sun. It also does well in sandy soils that are a bit acidic, especially in places where it rains more than 400 millimeters (16 inches) in winter.
