Melaleuca lutea

Melaleuca lutea is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. This species was previously known as Melaleuca citrina but was renamed to allow Callistemon citrinus to be moved to the genus Melaleuca. It is distinguished by its oval shaped, dense heads of yellow flowers and bushy foliage.

Melaleuca lutea
Melaleuca lutea growing at East Mount Barren.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. lutea
Binomial name
Melaleuca lutea

Description

Melaleuca lutea is an erect shrub which grows to a height of about 2–3 m (7–10 ft). Its leaves are a very narrow oval shape, 5.8–24 mm (0.2–0.9 in) long, 0.8–2.1 mm (0.03–0.08 in) wide, mostly glabrous with a blunt end.[1]

The bright yellow flowers are arranged in oval-shaped spikes, often on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The spikes contain 10 to 18 groups of flowers in threes, densely packed together, each spike up to 25 mm (1 in) long. The stamens are in five bundles around the flower, each bundle with 5 to 9 stamens. Flowering occurs in late spring and the fruit which follow are rounded, woody capsules 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long in tight clusters along the stem.[1][2]

M. lutea leaves, flowers and fruit
M. lutea bark

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca lutea[3] was previously known as Melaleuca citrina, first described in 1852 by Nikolai Turczaninow in Bulletin de la classe physico-mathematique de l'Academie Imperiale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg.[4][5]

In 2006, Lyndley Craven proposed that all callistemons be moved to the genus Melaleuca.[6][7] The move meant that Callistemon citrinus would become Melaleuca citrina. That name was already in use (a homonym). As a result, the name of the former Melaleuca citrina was changed to Melaleuca lutea.

The specific epithet is a Latin word meaning "yellow"[8] referring to the flower colour of this melaleuca.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in heath and shrub from the Porongurup and Stirling Range National Parks to the Hopetoun district[1][2] in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region.[9] It grows in sandy soils on rocky hills.[10]

Conservation status

Melaleuca lutea is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[9]

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca lutea is well known in cultivation (usually as Melaleuca citrina) in Western Australia, growing in a range of soil types.[1]

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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. 235. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 56–57. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. "Melaleuca lutea". APNI. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  4. "Melaleuca citrina". APNI. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. Turczaninow, Nikolai (1852). Bulletin de la classe physico-mathematique de l'Academie Imperiale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg, Volumes 10-11. St. Petersburg. p. 340. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca background". Australian native plant society (Australia). Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  7. Craven, Lyn A. (19 December 2006). "New combinations in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) for Australian species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 16: 468–475. doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2006)16[468:ncimfa]2.0.co;2. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 872.
  9. "Melaleuca basicephala". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  10. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 392. ISBN 0646402439.
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