Melaleuca phoenicea

Melaleuca phoenicea, commonly known as scarlet bottlebrush or lesser bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. (Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon phoeniceus.)[2] The Noongar peoples know the plant as Tubada.[3] It is a shrub with thick, blue-green leaves and spikes of scarlet bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.

Scarlet bottlebrush
Melaleuca phoenicea leaves, flowers and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. phoenicea
Binomial name
Melaleuca phoenicea
Synonyms[1]

Callistemon phoeniceus Lindl.

Description

Melaleuca phoenicea is a large shrub or small tree growing to 6 m (20 ft) high. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 31–114 mm (1–4 in) long, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide, flat and linear to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base. The leaves are thick and bluish-green and have a mid-vein, 11–18 indistinct lateral veins and prominent oil glands.[1][4][5]

The flowers are brilliant red or rich scarlet and are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches that continue to grow after flowering and also on the sides of the branches. The spikes are 50–65 mm (2–3 in) in diameter with 15 to 55 individual flowers. The petals are 2.9–7.3 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. There are 39–56 stamens in each flower. Flowering occurs mainly from October to January but also at other times of the year and is followed by fruit that are woody capsules, 4.3–6 mm (0.17–0.24 in) long.[1][4][5]

M. phoenicea growing near Geraldton

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca phoenicea was first named in 2006 by Lyndley Craven in Novon when Callistemon phoeniceus was transferred to the present genus.[6][7] It had been formally described in 1839 by botanist John Lindley in "A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony" as Callistemon phoeniceum, later revised to Callistemon phoeniceus.The specific epithet (pheonicea) is from the Latin word phoeniceus, in turn derived from the Ancient Greek word phoinix meaning "purple-red",[8] referring to the flower colour.[1]

Callistemon phoeniceus is regarded as a synonym of Melaleuca phoenicea by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[9]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca grows in the south west of Western Australia but there are also scattered populations in some of the more arid areas of that state.[1] It grows in sandy soils, often along watercourses.[10][11]

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca phoenicea is often cultivated as Callistemon phoeniceus. It is hardy and will grow in most soils provided there is adequate moisture and exposure to the sun. It benefits from light pruning and the application of fertiliser.[5][12]

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. p. 280. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Udovicic, Frank; Spencer, Roger (2012). "New combinations in Callistemon (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Muelleria. 30 (1): 23–25. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. "Callistemon phoeniceus". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. Mullins, E. "Callistemon phoeniceus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca phoenicea". APNI. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  7. Craven, Lyn A. (2006). "New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 16 (4): 473. doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2006)16[468:NCIMFA]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 643.
  9. "Callistemon phoeniceus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  10. "Callistemon phoeniceus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 350. ISBN 0646402439.
  12. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 193. ISBN 0002165759.
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