Melaleuca dichroma
| Melaleuca dichroma | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. dichroma |
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca dichroma Craven & Lepschi | |
Melaleuca dichroma is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is unusual for its genus in that its flowers are yellow or creamy-white but age to a pinkish-red.
Description
Melaleuca dichroma is an shrub which can grow to a height of 1 metre (3 ft). The leaves are arranged alternately, linear to narrow oval in shape, 3.7–15.5 millimetres (0.1–0.6 in) long, 0.5–1.3 millimetres (0.02–0.05 in) wide and lack a stalk.
The flowers are arranged in heads near the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering, sometimes in the upper leaf axils. There are one to four groups of three flowers in each head, the heads up to 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in diameter. The flowers appear in spring and are initially pale yellow to creamy-white but fade to pinkish-red. The petals are 0.8–1.2 millimetres (0.03–0.05 in) long and fall off as the flowers age. The stamens are arranged in bundles of five around the flower, with 6 to 13 stamens in each bundle. Flowering occurs from August to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules 3–5 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long in clusters.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca virgata was renamed Melaleuca dichroma in 2001 by Lyndley Craven and F.J. Lepschi in Australian Systematic Botany.[3] The specific epithet (dichroma) is from the Greek δίς (dís) for “twice”[4] and χρῶμα (khrôma) meaning “color”[5] "in reference to the staminal filaments changing in colour from cream to whitish at anthesis to pinkish as the flower ages".[1]
This species is closely related to Melaleuca urceolaris, differing mainly in the arrangement of the flowers.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Melaleuca dichroma occurs in the Arrino, Hill River and Moora districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions.[6] It grows in sandy, gravelly and loamy soils.[1]
Ecology
Melaleuca gnidioides is a distantly related species whose flowers also change colour as they age. It may signal to pollinators that a reward is no longer available.[1]
Uses
Horticulture
This species is not well known in cultivation, but the similar Melaleuca urceolaris has been grown successfully for its showy flowers and interesting foliage, suggesting that Melaleuca dichroma may also have horticultural merit, especially for its two-tone flowers.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 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. 148. ISBN 9781922137517.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed. ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 302. ISBN 1876334983.
- ↑ "Melaleuca dichroma". APNI. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ↑ "di-". Wiktionary. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "chroma". Wiktionary. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "Melaleuca dichroma". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
External link
- Craven, L. A.; Lepschi, B. J. (2001). "Melaleuca dichroma, a new name for M. virgata (Benth.) Craven, nom. Illeg. (Myrtaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany 14 (6): 971. doi:10.1071/SB01024. Retrieved 27 March 2015.