Oakey bottlebrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oakey bottlebrush |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
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| Species: |
quercina
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| Synonyms | |
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Callistemon quercinus (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer |
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The Melaleuca quercina, also known as the Oakey bottlebrush, is a plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, which is called Myrtaceae. This plant is only found in a small part of Queensland, Australia. Some plant experts in Australia use the name Callistemon quercinus for it. The Oakey bottlebrush is a small tree with dark, corky bark. It has spikes of yellow, cream, or pink flowers that look like bottlebrushes. These flowers appear in spring and summer.
What the Oakey Bottlebrush Looks Like
The Oakey bottlebrush is a large bush or a small tree. It can grow up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. It has dark, corky bark. Its leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are 23 to 74 millimeters (about 1 to 3 inches) long. They are also 3.5 to 12 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.5 inches) wide. The leaves are mostly flat and oval-shaped. They have a longer stem than other similar plants. Each leaf has a main vein and 11 to 20 side veins.
The flowers are yellow or pink. They grow in spikes that are 25 to 30 millimeters (about 1 inch) across. Each spike has 15 to 40 small flowers. The petals are 3.1 to 4.4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. They fall off as the flower gets older. Each flower has 70 to 94 stamens. Stamens are the parts that make pollen. It flowers from October to February. After flowering, it grows woody fruits. These fruits are called capsules. They are 3 to 5.3 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. They grow in loose groups along the stem.
How it Got its Name
Scientists first officially described the Oakey bottlebrush in 2009. This was done by a scientist named Lyndley Craven. He wrote about it in a science journal called Novon. He found a sample of the plant near Oakey Creek. The plant's scientific name, quercina, comes from the word Quercus. This is the name for oak trees. The plant was named this because it was found near Oakey Creek, close to the town of Oakey in Queensland.
Some scientists consider Callistemon quercinus to be the same plant as Melaleuca quercina. This is according to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Where the Oakey Bottlebrush Grows
The Oakey bottlebrush is found in the areas around Oakey and Dalby in Queensland. It grows along the banks and flat areas next to creeks. It prefers to grow in dark clay soils.
