Melaleuca groveana

Melaleuca groveana, commonly known as Grove's paperbark is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is an uncommon species with relatively large heads of white flowers in spring, the styles of which are significantly longer than the stamens.

Grove's paperbark
Melaleuca groveana leaves, flowers and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. groveana
Binomial name
Melaleuca groveana

Description

Melaleuca groveana is a large shrub or tree with fibrous or papery bark which grows to a height of 5–10 m (20–30 ft). Its leaves are arranged alternately on the stems, narrow elliptical in shape, 10–55 mm (0.4–2 in) long, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide tapering to a point, with a stalk 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long. The leaves have a distinct midvein and several lateral veins.[1][2][3][4]

The white flowers are grouped in spikes up to 30 mm (1 in) long at the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering, and sometimes in the upper leaf axils. Each spike contains 3 to 16 flowers loosely arranged and up to 35 mm (1 in) in diameter. The petals are 3.5–3.8 mm (0.14–0.15 in) and fall off as the flower matures. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower and there are 11 to 26 stamens in each bundle. Flowering occurs in early spring but the flowers are relatively short-lived. The fruit are woody, cup or barrel-shaped capsules 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) in diameter and spaced along the branches.[1][2][3][4]

M. groveana in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
M. groveana Inflorescence detail

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca groveana was first formally described in 1925 by Edwin Cheel and Cyril Tenison White in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.[5] The specific epithet (groveana) honours C.H. Grove, a Queensland clergyman and the collector of the type specimen.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca groveana has a fragmented distribution from the Port Stephens district in New South Wales to the Bluff district in Queensland. It grows in heath and woodland with a heathy understorey, usually in higher areas, often in exposed sites on rocky ridges and outcrops and sometimes on low hills near the coast.[3][4][6]

Ecology

Some coastal populations of Grove's paperbark are under threat from competition with the introduced weed bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera).[7]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "vulnerable" in New South Wales[4] and "near threatened" in Queensland.[6] It is listed as "rare" in the 1997 IUCN red book of threatened plants.[8]

Uses

Horticulture

Melaleuca groveana is a hardy species, easily propagated from seed and suitable as a screening plant. Unlike most melaleucas, after initial establishment it is relatively drought resistant plant.[7]

References
  1. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 130–131. ISBN 1876334983.
  2. Brophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. p. 185. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. Wilson, Peter. "Melaleuca groveana". Plantnet: Royal botanic garden Sydney. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. "Grove's paperbark". NSW government: Department of environment and heritage. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca groveana". APNI. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca groveana". Queensland government department of environment and heritage protection. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  7. East, Regan. "Melaleuca groveana". Australian national botanic garden. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  8. Walter, Kerry S. (ed); Gillett, Harriet J. (ed) (1998). 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. p. 429. ISBN 283170328X. Retrieved 2 April 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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