Stout paperbark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stout paperbark |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Melaleuca preissiana on the Swan Coastal Plain north of Perth | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melaleuca
|
| Species: |
preissiana
|
The Stout Paperbark (scientific name: Melaleuca preissiana) is a cool plant that grows in coastal parts of southwest Australia. People also call it modong or moonah. It belongs to the myrtle family, which is called Myrtaceae by scientists. This plant is special because it only grows naturally in this area of Australia. It can be a bush or a small tree with bark that feels like paper. It has small leaves and usually white flowers that grow in spikes. You'll often find it in places that get wet during certain times of the year.
Contents
What the Stout Paperbark Looks Like
The Stout Paperbark can be a bush or a small tree. It sometimes grows up to 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall. Its bark often feels like paper, but sometimes it can be pale and hard.
Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are usually 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 0.7–2.1 mm (0.03–0.08 in) wide. The leaves are flat, narrow, and shaped like an egg, getting thinner towards the end.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers are usually white, but you might also see them in cream or yellow colors. They grow in spikes at the ends of branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers bloom. Sometimes, flowers also appear where the leaves meet the stem.
The flower spikes are about 20 mm (0.8 in) wide. Each spike has 7 to 21 groups of three flowers. The petals are about 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long and fall off as the flower gets older. Inside each flower, there are 27 to 36 stamens (the parts that make pollen) grouped into five bundles.
You can see these flowers from August to March. After the flowers, the plant makes fruit. These fruits are woody capsules, which are like small, hard seed pods. They are about 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long.
.jpg)
How it Got its Name
The scientific name Melaleuca preissiana was first officially written down by a scientist named Johannes Conrad Schauer in 1844. He described it in a book called Plantae Preissianae. The plant was found by another scientist, James Drummond.
The second part of the name, preissianna, is a way to honor Ludwig Preiss. He was a person who collected many plants and animals in Western Australia.
Where the Stout Paperbark Grows
This type of melaleuca tree grows in coastal areas of Western Australia. You can find it between Jurien Bay, Western Australia and Albany. It grows in different natural areas like the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren.
It's one of the main trees you'll see in the peaty soil of "mound springs" on the Swan Coastal Plain. These mound springs are special places where water from underground (called an aquifer) comes up to the surface.
Is it Endangered?
Good news! The Melaleuca preissiana is not considered to be in danger. The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says it is "not threatened."
See also
In Spanish: Corteza de papel robusta para niños
