Salt lake honey-myrtle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salt lake honey-myrtle
M. thyoides leaves and flowers
Scientific classification
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	thyoides

The salt lake honey-myrtle (scientific name: Melaleuca thyoides) is a plant from the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. It is a tall bush with grey, papery bark. Its branches are thin, and its leaves are very small and overlap each other. This plant can handle salty conditions, which is why it often grows near salt lakes.

What the Salt Lake Honey-Myrtle Looks Like

The salt lake honey-myrtle is a bush that can grow up to about 5 m (20 ft) tall and wide. It has rough, dark grey bark. Its young branches are smooth, but they become rougher as they get older.

The leaves of this plant are tiny, like scales. They are about 0.9–2.2 mm (0.04–0.09 in) long and 0.8–1.2 mm (0.03–0.05 in) wide. They are shaped like an egg and press against the stem, overlapping each other.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the salt lake honey-myrtle are usually pink or purple. Sometimes, they can be white or cream. They grow in round clusters at the ends of the branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom.

Each flower cluster is about 17 mm (0.7 in) across. It holds 4 to 12 groups of three flowers. The petals are small, about 1–1.5 millimetres (0.04–0.06 in)^* long, and they fall off as the flowers get older. Each flower has five groups of stamens (the parts that make pollen), with 3 to 6 stamens in each group.

You can see these flowers in spring or summer. After the flowers, the plant produces woody, cup-shaped fruits called capsules. These fruits are about 2.5–3 millimetres (0.098–0.12 in)^* long. They grow in clusters up to 40 millimetres (2 in)^* long along the stem.

How it Got its Name

The salt lake honey-myrtle was first officially described in 1847 by a scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow. He wrote about it in a science journal.

The plant's scientific name, thyoides, comes from the word Thuja. This is another type of plant in the cypress family. The name was chosen because the leaves of the salt lake honey-myrtle look a bit like the leaves of Thuja plants.

Where the Plant Grows

This melaleuca plant is found in Western Australia. It grows in areas like Ongerup, Perenjori, and Cape Arid. You can find it in different natural regions, including the Avon Wheatbelt and Esperance Plains.

It likes to grow in clay or sandy soils. You will often see it near the edges of salt lakes and along river banks.

Protecting the Plant

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Melaleuca thyoides as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.

How People Use It

The salt lake honey-myrtle is a useful plant for gardening. It can handle salty conditions very well. It is also quite good at surviving in areas that get very wet or very dry.

Images for kids

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  M. thyoides growing along Scaddan Road

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  M. thyoides fruit

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  M. thyoides bark