Melaleuca triumphalis facts for kids

Melaleuca triumphalis is a special plant from the myrtle family. It grows only in the Victoria River area of the Northern Territory in Australia. This plant was found during an expedition in 1996. This trip celebrated the work of an early botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. Melaleuca triumphalis is a shrub with grey leaves and bright green flowers that bloom in spring.

What Does it Look Like?

Melaleuca triumphalis can grow up to 2.5 m (8 ft) (about 8 feet) tall. It has bark that looks and feels like paper, and its young stems are a bit hairy. Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are narrow and oval-shaped, about 60–140 mm (2–6 in) (2 to 5.5 inches) long and 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) (0.6 to 1 inch) wide. These leaves are covered with fine hairs and have 3 to 5 veins running lengthwise.

The flowers grow in round clusters or short spikes. These clusters can be up to 65 mm (3 in) (about 2.5 inches) across. Each cluster has 10 to 20 groups of three flowers. The flowers appear in September and are green, but they turn yellow as they get older. The petals are about 5.1–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and fall off when the flower is fully grown. Inside the flower, there are five groups of stamens (the parts that make pollen), with 7 to 12 stamens in each group. The base of the flower is hairy and about 2.8–4.6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. After flowering, the plant produces woody seed pods called capsules, which are 3.7–5.6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) (0.15 to 0.22 inches) long.

How it Got its Name

The plant Melaleuca triumphalis was first officially described in 1998 by a scientist named Lyndley Craven. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The plant was found in the Judbarra / Gregory National Park. This discovery happened during a 1996 trip that celebrated 100 years since the death of Ferdinand von Mueller.

The second part of its name, triumphalis, means "triumphal" or "victorious." This name was chosen to remember the great success of Mueller's work on the Gregory expedition. It also celebrates finding this new plant during the special centenary expedition.

Where Does it Live?

Melaleuca triumphalis is found in the Victoria River district. It likes to grow in specific places, such as near springs at the bottom of waterfalls. You can also find it at the top of rocky slopes, which are sometimes called scree slopes.

Protecting This Plant

Scientists looked for this plant in the Judbarra / Gregory National Park. They found 37 different groups of Melaleuca triumphalis growing there. It's possible that this plant also grows in other similar places, like the Keep River National Park. Because it's only found in a few specific spots, experts have suggested that Melaleuca triumphalis should be listed as "vulnerable." This means it needs special protection to make sure it continues to thrive in the future.