Melaleuca eximia

Melaleuca eximia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is distinguished by its leaf arrangement, its large, showy red inflorescences and the large, furry bracts under the flowers.

Melaleuca eximia

Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. eximia
Binomial name
Melaleuca eximia
(K.J.Cowley) Craven
Synonyms[1]

Melaleuca coccinea subsp. eximia K.J.Cowley

Description

Melaleuca eximia is a woody shrub growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall with short, silky hairs covering the young branches. Its leaves are crowded and arranged in alternating pairs at right angles to the ones above and below so that there are four rows of leaves along the stems. The leaves are linear, taper to a point, crescent moon-shaped in cross section, 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) long and 1.2–2 mm (0.05–0.08 in) wide.[1][2]

The flowers are bright red and arranged in spikes on the sides of the branches. The heads are up to 60 mm (2 in) in diameter and composed of 7 to 13 groups of flowers in threes. At the base of each group of flowers there is a furry, heart-shaped bract. The petals are 2.2–3 mm (0.09–0.1 in) long and fall off as the flower opens. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 11 to 14 stamens. Flowering occurs mainly in October and November and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules 4.5–5 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long, crowded in cylindrical clusters around the stems.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

The first formal description of this plant was made in 1990 by Kirsten Cowley in Australian Systematic Botany as Melaleuca coccinea subsp. eximia from a specimen collected near Esperance.[3][4] It was raised to species status as Meleleuca eximia in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany.[5][6] The specific epithet (eximia) is from the Latin eximius meaning "exceptional" or "extraordinary", referring to the appearance of the plant in flower.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca eximia occurs in a small area near Esperance[1][2] in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions,[7] growing in gravelly sand or clay near granite outcrops.[8]

Conservation status

This melaleuca is listed as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is known from only a few locations but is not currently in imminent danger.[7][9]

Use in horticulture

The leaves and flowers of this species make this an attractive plant for the garden. It has been grown in South Australia and proven to be hardy in drier climates when grown in soil that is slightly acid.[2]

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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. 158. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 106–107. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. Cowley, KJ; Quinn, FC; Barlow, BA; Craven, LA (1990). "Contributions to a revision of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae): 7–10". Australian Systematic Botany. 3 (2): 179. doi:10.1071/SB9900165. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca coccinea subsp. eximia". APNI. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca eximia". APNI. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. 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): 876. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
  7. "Melaleuca eximia". 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 0646402439.
  9. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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