Melaleuca kunzeoides

Melaleuca kunzeoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species: M. kunzeoides
Binomial name
Melaleuca kunzeoides
Byrnes

Melaleuca kunzeoides is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to central Queensland in Australia. It is a rare shrub with a very limited distribution and is classified as 'vulnerable' by the Australian government..

Description

Melaleuca kunzeoides is a shrub to 1.5 metres (5 ft) with papery bark and glabrous foliage, except for the youngest branchlets and leaves. The leaves are arranged alternately and are 3.3–8 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long, 1–2 millimetres (0.04–0.08 in) wide and narrow oval to oval in shape and tapering to a point.[1]

The flowers are yellowish green arranged on spikes on the ends of branches and between the leaves. Each spike contains 5 to 17 individual flowers, or sometimes flowers in pairs or threes. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 4 to 6 stamens. Flowering occurs in April and November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, each about 1.3–1.5 millimetres (0.05–0.06 in) long.[1][2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca kunzeoides was first described by N.B. Byrnes in 1984 in Austrobaileya.[4] The specific epithet (kunzeoides) is "in reference to a perceived similarity between this species and a species of Kunzea".[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca kunzeoides occurs near Adavale in central Queensland.[1][2] The type specimen described by Byrnes was from about 20km north-west of Adavale. The species occurs on private property.[3]

Conservation

This species has been classified as "vulnerable" by the Australian government.[5] It is included in the IUCN Red Book of endangered plants.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 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. 209. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. ↑ 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. 130. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Approved conservation advice for Melaleuca kunzeoides". Australian government department of the environment. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melaleuca kunzeoides". APNI. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Melaleuca kunzeoides". Australian government department of the environment. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Walter, Kerry S. (ed.); Gillett, Harriet J. (1998). 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN Species Survival Commission. p. 429. ISBN 283170328X. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

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