Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens, commonly known as the scarlet honey myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. In 1990, the species Melaleuca fulgens was separated into 3 subspecies and this is the most widespread of them. As with the other two subspecies, this one is notable for its showy flowers which are usually red but its foliage and fruits are also attractive features.

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. fulgens

Subspecies:
M. f. subsp. fulgens
Trinomial name
Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens

Description

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens is a woody shrub growing to a height of up to 3 metres (10 ft) and a width of 2 metres (7 ft), with glabrous branchlets. Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs at right angles to those immediately above and below (decussate) so that the leaves are in four rows along the stems. The leaves are 10–40 millimetres (0.4–2 in) long, 0.7–5.5 millimetres (0.03–0.2 in) wide, linear to narrow elliptic in shape, concave and with prominent oil glands.[1][2]

The flowers are usually bright red, but sometimes other shades of red, pink or white and are arranged in spikes on the sides of the branches. The spikes are up to 40 millimetres (2 in) in diameter and length. Each spike contains 6 to 20 individual flowers arranged in a decussate pattern. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 22 to 80 stamens. The stamen filaments are 16.5–27 millimetres (0.6–1 in)long. The flowers appear from June to April but mostly in September and October. The fruits which follow are woody capsules 7–9 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) in diameter, shaped like a squashed urn and arranged in alternating pairs along the stems.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca fulgens was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in William Aiton's Hortus Kewensis in 1812.[3][4] In 1990, the species was separated into three subspecies by Kirsten Cowley, Frances Quinn, Bryan Barlow and Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany.[5][6] The specific epithet "is from the Latin fulgens, shining, bright-coloured, in reference to the bright red flowers".[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens occurs in and between the Paynes Find, Great Victoria Desert and Israelite Bay districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Great Victoria Desert, Mallee, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[7] It grows in sand, loam or gravel, on granite outcrops.[8]

Use in horticulture

This subspecies of Melaleuca fulgens is commonly grown in Australian gardens but requires full sun and excellent drainage for best results.[9]

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. 172–173. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-1876334987.
  3. Aiton, William Townsend (1812). Hortus Kewensis. London. p. 415. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca fulgens". APNI. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. Cowley, KJ; Quinn, FC; Barlow, BA; Craven, LA (1990). "Contributions to a revision of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae): 7–10". Australian Systematic Botany. 3 (2): 172. doi:10.1071/SB9900165. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens". APNI. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  7. "Melaleuca fulgens subsp. fulgens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  8. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 393. ISBN 978-0646402437.
  9. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2 ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 264. ISBN 978-0002165754.
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