Melaleuca thymoides

Melaleuca thymoides is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a low shrub. The ends of the branches usually end in a sharp spine and the leaves also have a sharp point. Bright yellow flowers appear on the ends of the branches in spring or early summer.

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

Description

Melaleuca thymoides is a spreading shrub usually no more than 1 m (3 ft) tall and wide, although sometimes it is up to 3 m (10 ft) tall, with the branchlets usually ending in a sharp spine. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, 2.4–13.8 mm (0.09–0.5 in) long, 0.7–3.6 mm (0.03–0.1 in) wide, lance-shaped to narrow oval and ending with a sharp point. The leaves have a central and two marginal veins.[2][3]

The flowers are bright yellow, and arranged in a spike or a head near the ends of branches. The heads are up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter and contain 2 to 15 groups of flowers in threes. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle with 7 to 11 stamens. Flowering occurs from August to February but mainly in October and November. The fruit which follow are woody capsules 2.3–4 mm (0.09–0.2 in) long in clusters of about six which are about 10 mm (0.4 in) in diameter. The rim of the fruit are flat.[2][3]

M. thymoides growing near Busselton

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca thymoides was first formally described in 1806 by the French biologist, Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[1][4] The specific epithet (thymoides) refers to the similarity of the foliage of this species with those of a species of Thymus in the Family Lamiaceae.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in coastal areas in and between the Perth, Albany and Cape Arid districts[2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions.[5] It grows in sand on granite hills and in areas that are flooded after rain.[2]

Conservation

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

References
  1. "Melaleuca thymoides". APNI. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  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. 359. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 288–289. ISBN 1876334983.
  4. Labillardière, Jacques (1806). Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca thymoides". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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