Melaleuca thymoides facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melaleuca thymoides
M. thymoides leaves, flowers and fruit
Scientific classification
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	thymoides

Melaleuca thymoides is a unique plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.

This plant is usually a small bush. Its branches often end in a sharp point. The leaves also have a sharp tip. You can see bright yellow flowers on the branch ends. They usually appear in spring or early summer.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Melaleuca thymoides is a spreading bush. It is usually about 1 metre (3 feet) tall and wide. Sometimes, it can grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Its small branches often have a sharp spine at the end.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are about 2.4 to 13.8 millimetres (0.1 to 0.5 inches) long. They are also about 0.7 to 3.6 millimetres (0.03 to 0.14 inches) wide. Their shape is like a spear or a narrow oval. Each leaf ends with a sharp point. The leaves have one main vein in the middle and two smaller veins on the sides.

The flowers are a bright yellow colour. They grow in a spike or a round cluster near the ends of the branches. These flower clusters can be up to 15 millimetres (0.6 inches) across. Each cluster has 2 to 15 groups of three flowers. The plant has parts called stamens. These are arranged in five groups around the flower. Each group has 7 to 11 stamens.

When Does It Flower?

This plant usually flowers from August to February. But it blooms most often in October and November. After the flowers, the plant grows woody fruits. These fruits are like small, hard cases. They are about 2.3 to 4 millimetres (0.09 to 0.16 inches) long. They grow in clusters of about six fruits. These clusters are about 10 millimetres (0.4 inches) across. The edge of the fruit is flat.

M. thymoides growing near Busselton

How Was It Named?

The plant Melaleuca thymoides 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, thymoides, means "like Thymus". This is because its leaves look similar to a plant called Thymus. Thymus is a different type of plant from the Lamiaceae family.

Where Does It Grow?

This type of melaleuca plant grows along the coast. You can find it in areas between Perth, Albany, and the Cape Arid districts. These areas include different natural regions in Western Australia.

It likes to grow in sandy soil on granite hills. It also grows in places that get flooded after it rains.

Is It Protected?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Melaleuca thymoides is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.