Melaleuca uncinata
| 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, Broom Honeymyrtle or Brushwood, is a plant in the Paperbark family native to southern Australia. It is harvested from the wild, and grown in plantations, for broombush fencing.
Taxonomy
The plant belongs to a species complex containing at least 11 species.[1]
Description
Broombush is a multistemmed evergreen shrub usually 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]
Distribution
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]
Uses
Broombush or Brushwood has been used for centuries around the world, primarily for roofing; however, building techniques have evolved into using more readily available materials such as clay tiles and steel sheeting. Brushwood is now a sought-after building material for fencing, with its unique warm appearance and longevity through design. Brushwood has become a building material reserved for prestige environments to set a feel and standard above any other.
Brushwood fencing is now available in pre-made panels, the pre-made brushwood panels have many advantages over their predecessors, due to the material being compressed the panel has an increased longevity and a more attractive appearance, in fact the high density pre-made brushwood panels if installed correctly qualify as pool fencing in most shires of Australia. It would seem that the higher the density of the Melaleuca in the panel the better the finished product; investigations have concluded that most of the large companies, organisations and institutions that use brushwood fencing are now requesting that only the high density brushwood panels are to be used on their projects.
References
Notes
Sources
- "Melaleuca uncinata". Florabank. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- "Melaleuca uncinata". Florabase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- "Davey Brushwood Fencing".