| Broombush | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. uncinata |
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca uncinata R.Br. |
|
Melaleuca uncinata, commonly known as Broombush or Broom Honeymyrtle, is a plant in the Paperbark family native to southern Australia. It is harvested from the wild, and grown in plantations, for broombush fencing.
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The plant belongs to a species complex containing at least 11 species.[1]
Broombush is a multistemmed evergreen shrub usually less than less than 2 m in height, occasionally growing as a small tree to less than 5 m. It is often found in association with mallee eucalypts. Its flowers are white, cream or yellow, and are attractive to birds. [2][1] This plant is also the only known host of the rare and threatened Rhizanthella gardneri, the 'Underground Orchid'. [3]
The plant occurs in the Coolgardie-Esperance region of Western Australia as well as on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia, extending eastwards to western Victoria and south-western New South Wales.[1]