Melaleuca atroviridis

Melaleuca atroviridis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was formerly included in the species Melaleuca uncinata but a review of that species lead to the identification of a number of new species. Like M. uncinata, this species is used for the production of brushwood fencing. It has fewer stamens in the flowers and somewhat smaller clusters of fruit but has the same needle-like leaves with a hooked end and spikes of creamy yellow flowers in early summer.

Melaleuca atroviridis
M. atroviridis at the type locality near Goomalling.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. atroviridis
Binomial name
Melaleuca atroviridis
Craven & Lepschi

Description

Melaleuca atroviridis is a large shrub sometimes growing to a height of 12 m (40 ft) and has dark, flaking papery bark. Its leaves mostly point upwards, are almost circular in cross-section, 22–56 mm (0.9–2 in) long and 0.6–1.4 mm (0.02–0.06 in) wide. The ends of the leaves taper to a hook.[1]

The flowers are a cream or yellow and arranged in spikes containing 5 to 27 groups of flowers in threes. The spikes are 15–17 mm (0.6–0.7 in) in diameter. The petals are 1.3–1.6 mm (0.05–0.06 in) long and fall off as the flower opens. The stamens are arranged in five bundles of around the flower, with 7 to 11 stamens in each bundle. The flowering season lasts from December to February and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules. The fruits become so closely packed together that they lose their individual identities and form a cylinder 5.4–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) in diameter.[1][2]

foliage and fruit

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca atroviridis was first formally described in 2004 by Lyndley Craven and Brendan Lepschi in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected near Goomalling.[3][4] The specific epithet (atroviridis) is from the Latin ater meaning "black" and viridis meaning "green", referring to the dark green colour of the foliage of this species.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in and between the Coorow, Perenjori, Wubin, Yellowdine, Beaufort River, Pingrup and Varley districts[1] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Murchison and Yalgoo bieogeographic regions. It grows in woodland, shrubland and samphire on a range of soils and on saline sites, including those on degraded land.[5]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

Uses

Melaleuca atroviridis is one of the species used in the production of brushwood fencing and is sometimes cultivated for that purpose.[1] Tests have shown that it grows well in sand that is saline but not so well on salt affected loam or clay.[6][7]

References
  1. Brophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. pp. 83–84. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 300–301. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. Craven, Lyn A.; Lepschi, Brendan J.; Broadhurst, Linda; Byrne, Margaret (2004). "Taxonomic revision of the broombush complex in Western Australia (Myrtaceae, Melaleuca uncinata s.l.)". Australian Systematic Botany. 17 (3): 259. doi:10.1071/SB04001. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca atroviridis". APNI. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca atroviridis". FloraBase. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  6. Troup, Georgie. "Growing Brushwood for Profit and Protection in the Northern Agricultural Region" (PDF). Moore Catchment Council. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. Robinson, Chris; Emmott, Tim. "Growing Broombush: for Fencing Products on Cleared Farmland in Southern WA" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fisheries. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
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