Melaleuca phoidophylla

Melaleuca phoidophylla is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its leaf arrangement, small raised blisters on the leaves and heads of white or cream flowers on the ends of the branches in spring.

fruit
habit near Bruce Rock

Melaleuca phoidophylla
Flowers and foliage of Melaleuca phoidophylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. phoidophylla
Binomial name
Melaleuca phoidophylla
Barlow ex Craven

Description

Melaleuca phoidophylla is a shrub sometimes growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall. Its leaves are arranged in rings of three around the stem and are 3–7.6 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 0.9–1.6 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide, linear to narrow egg-shaped and with a rounded end. The leaves have small blisters and in cross section are crescent moon-shaped to semicircular.[1][2]

The flowers are cream to white, sometimes pinkish and arranged in heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The heads are up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter with 3 to 18 individual flowers. The petals are 1.3–2 mm (0.05–0.08 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 7 to 11 stamens. Flowering occurs from September to November, and is followed by fruit which are woody, cup-shaped capsules, 1.8–2 mm (0.07–0.08 in) long in clusters along the stem.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca phoidophylla was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected near Pingaring.[3][4] The specific epithet (phoidophylla) is derived from ancient Greek words phois meaning "blister" and phyllon meaning "leaf",[4] referring to the raised blisters on the leaves of this species.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in and between the Katanning, Boorabbin and Salmon Gums districts[1] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Mallee and Murchison biogeographic regions.[5] It grows in sandy or clayey soils near lakes and areas that are seasonally flooded.[6]

Conservation

Melaleuca phoidophylla is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

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. 281. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. "Melaleuca phoidophylla". APNI. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  4. Craven, L. A.; Lepschi, B. J. (1999). "Enumeration of the species and infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) occurring in Australia and Tasmania". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (6): 894. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
  5. "Melaleuca phoidophylla". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 396. ISBN 0646402439.
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