Needle bottlebrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Needle bottlebrush |
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| M. orophila in the Peter Francis Points Arboretum, Coleraine, Victoria | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
orophila
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| Synonyms | |
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Callistemon teretifolius F.Muell. |
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The Melaleuca orophila, often called needle bottlebrush or Flinders Ranges bottlebrush, is a special plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is found only in the eastern part of South Australia. It's a medium-sized shrub with leaves that look like sharp needles. Its bright red flowers grow in spikes, just like a bottlebrush!
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What Does the Needle Bottlebrush Look Like?
The Melaleuca orophila is a shrub that can grow up to about 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall. It has strong, cracked bark and stiff branches. Its leaves are placed one after another along the stem. They are long and thin, measuring about 44 to 143 millimeters (1.7 to 5.6 inches) in length. They are also very narrow, about 0.8 to 1.7 millimeters (0.03 to 0.07 inches) wide, and are round or nearly round when you look at them in cross-section.
Flowers and Fruit of the Bottlebrush
The flowers of the needle bottlebrush are bright red or sometimes orange-green. They grow in spikes at the ends of branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom. You can also find flower spikes on the sides of the branches. Each spike is about 40 to 55 millimeters (1.6 to 2.2 inches) across and can have 12 to 55 individual flowers.
The petals of each flower are about 3.5 to 7.4 millimeters (0.14 to 0.29 inches) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. Each flower also has many stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen, usually between 25 and 42 of them. This plant usually flowers in spring. After flowering, it produces woody fruits called capsules, which are about 5.5 to 7.1 millimeters (0.22 to 0.28 inches) long.
Where Does the Needle Bottlebrush Grow?
The Melaleuca orophila mostly grows in the Flinders Ranges area of South Australia. You can find it especially between Williamstown and Mount Crawford. It likes to grow in areas with mallee (a type of bushland) and woodlands, often in rocky places.
Is the Needle Bottlebrush Protected?
Yes, the Melaleuca orophila is considered a "vulnerable" plant. This means it needs protection because its numbers are decreasing. The Government of South Australia's Department for Environment and Heritage has given it this special status to help keep it safe.
