Bush-house paperbark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bush-house paperbark |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
tamariscina
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Melaleuca tamariscina, often called bush-house paperbark or tamarix honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It is found only in central Queensland, Australia. This plant grows into a small tree with tiny, scale-like leaves that press against its branches. It has soft, papery bark and branches that hang down, giving it a "weeping" look.
What it Looks Like
Melaleuca tamariscina is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 15 metres (about 50 feet) tall. It has white or grey bark that feels like paper. Its leaves hang downwards, making the plant look graceful.
The leaves are placed one after another along the stem. They are small, about 0.5 to 4.3 millimetres (0.02 to 0.17 inches) long and 0.5 to 1.2 millimetres (0.02 to 0.05 inches) wide. They are shaped like an oval or an egg and are slightly curved like a half-moon. Each leaf narrows to a point at the end. The leaves lie flat against the stem, and the stem even has small marks where each leaf sits.
The flowers can be white, creamy white, or light purple. They grow in groups called spikes on the sides of the branches. Each spike holds 5 to 25 groups of three flowers. These spikes can be up to 18 millimetres (0.7 inches) wide and 30 millimetres (1.2 inches) long. Inside the flowers, there are five groups of stamens (the parts that make pollen). Each group has 5 to 18 stamens.
This plant can flower at different times throughout the year. After the flowers, it produces fruits. These fruits are hard, woody capsules that are 2 to 3.5 millimetres (0.08 to 0.14 inches) long.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name Melaleuca tamariscina was first officially described by an English plant expert named William Jackson Hooker. He wrote about it in a book called Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia. The explorer Thomas Mitchell found this plant on August 4, 1846.
The second part of its name, tamariscina, comes from the word Tamarix. This is because the leaves of Melaleuca tamariscina look similar to the leaves of plants in the Tamarix group.
Where it Grows
Melaleuca tamariscina is found in the Great Dividing Range in central Queensland, Australia. You can see it in the areas between Torrens Creek and Jericho. This plant often grows in wet, boggy places. Sometimes, it can also be found on rocky areas like sandstone ridges.
