Melaleuca platycalyx

Melaleuca platycalyx is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, twiggy shrub with short spikes of purple or pink flowers in spring. The distinguishing features of this species include petals that are bent downwards, an unusually large number of stamens in each flower and unusually large fruits arranged in alternating pairs.

Melaleuca platycalyx
Melaleuca platycalyx in Kings Park Botanic Garden
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. platycalyx
Binomial name
Melaleuca platycalyx
fruit

Description

Melaleuca platycalyx is a spreading, glabrous shrub which grows to a height and width of about 1.5 metres (5 ft). Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that there are four rows of leaves along the branches. Each leaf is 5.0–10.4 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long and 2.4–5.5 millimetres (0.09–0.2 in) wide, elliptical in shape with a short point on the end and with distinct veins and oil glands.[1]

The flowers are a shade of pink or purple and are arranged in short spikes which develop from the sides of the branches. The spikes contain 2 to 4 individual flowers and are up to 16 millimetres (0.6 in) in diameter. The petals are 3–4 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long, folded downwards and fall off as the flower matures. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 25 to 36 stamens.Flowering mostly occurs in spring and early summer and is followed by the fruits which are woody capsules 4–6 millimetres (0.2–0.2 in) long, about 8 millimetres (0.3 in) in diameter and fused with the branches.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca platycalyx was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie.[3][4] The specific epithet (platycalyx) is derived from the Ancient Greek words πλατύς (platús) meaning “flat”[5]:167 and kalyx meaning "cup", "cover" or "outer envelope of a flower",[5]:181 apparently referring to the shape of the hypanthium.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca platycalyx occurs in and between the Latham, Ongerup and Lake King districts[1][2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.[6] It grows in sandy and gravelly soils on sandplains and near granite rocks.[7]

Conservation

This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

Uses

Horticulture

This species is only known in cultivation in a few places but is a moderately hardy plant in areas with lower humidity than the east coast of Australia. Other purple-flowered melaleucas may be more attractive but the foliage and fruits are features.[2][8]

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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. 284. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 216–217. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. "Melaleuca platycalyx". APNI. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  4. Diels, Ludwig (1904). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (2–3): 426. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. "Melaleuca platycalyx". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 396. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 267. ISBN 0002165759.
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