Melaleuca kunzeoides

Melaleuca kunzeoides is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to central Queensland in Australia. It is a rare shrub with a very limited distribution and is classified as 'vulnerable' by the Australian government..

Melaleuca kunzeoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. kunzeoides
Binomial name
Melaleuca kunzeoides

Description

Melaleuca kunzeoides is a shrub to 1.5 m (5 ft) with papery bark and glabrous foliage, except for the youngest branchlets and leaves. The leaves are arranged alternately and are 3.3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and narrow oval to oval in shape and taper to a point.[1]

The flowers are yellowish green arranged on spikes on the ends of branches and between the leaves. Each spike contains 5 to 17 individual flowers, or sometimes flowers in pairs or threes. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 4 to 6 stamens. Flowering occurs in April and November and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, each about 1.3–1.5 mm (0.05–0.06 in) long.[1][2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca kunzeoides was first formally described by Byrnes in 1984 in Austrobaileya.[4][5] The specific epithet (kunzeoides) refers to an apparent similarity of this species to one in the genus Kunzea.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca kunzeoides occurs near Adavale in central Queensland.[1][2] The type specimen described by Byrnes was from about 20 km (10 mi) north-west of Adavale. The species occurs on private property.[3]

Conservation status

This species has been classified as "vulnerable" by the Australian government.[6] It is included in the IUCN Red Book of endangered plants.[7]

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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. 209. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 130. ISBN 978-1876334987.
  3. "Approved conservation advice for Melaleuca kunzeoides" (PDF). Australian government department of the environment. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca kunzeoides". APNI. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. Byrnes, N.B. (1984). "A revision of Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in northern and eastern Australia, 1". Austrobaileya. 2 (1): 75. JSTOR 41739162.
  6. "Melaleuca kunzeoides". Australian government department of the environment. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. Walter, Kerry S. (ed.); Gillett, Harriet J. (1998). 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. p. 429. ISBN 978-2831703282. Retrieved 6 April 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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