Melaleuca zonalis

Melaleuca zonalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca[1]
Species: M. zonalis
Binomial name
Melaleuca zonalis
Craven

Melaleuca zonalis is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Whilst it is common, it is restricted to a relatively small area.

Description

Melaleuca zonalis is an erect, multi-stemmed shrub, growing to a height of 1 metre (3 ft). The leaves are arranged alternately, 8.5–30.5 millimetres (0.3–1 in) long and 2.2–6 millimetres (0.09–0.2 in) wide, have a very short stalk and are covered with hairs when young but become glabrous with age.

The flowers are arranged in heads near the ends of the branches in groups of three, each head up to 28 millimetres (1 in) in diameter. The flowers appear from October to December and are yellow, pale lemon-white or cream, turning pink with age. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, with 8 to 13 stamens in each bundle. The base of the flower is hairy, 1.2–1.8 millimetres (0.05–0.07 in) long.

The woody capsules form an almost spherical shape around the stem, each fruit 3–6.5 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca zonalis was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in a review of the genus.[4] The specific epithet (zonalis) is from the Greek ζώνη, or zone[5] referring "to the apparently common occurrence of this species on the lateritic belt of the Gairdner Range in Western Australia".[3]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca zonalis occurs from Eneabba to the Gairdner Range[2] in the Lesueur National Park, only in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. It grows on grey sandy gravel over laterite on outcrops, valleys and hills.[6]

Conservation

Melaleuca zonalis is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife[6]

Uses

This species contains both mono- and sesquiterpenes essential oils but the yield is low.[3]

External sources

Craven, L. A.; Lepschi, B. J. (1999). "Enumeration of the species and infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) occurring in Australia and Tasmania". Australian Systematic Botany 12 (6): 916. doi:10.1071/SB98019. Retrieved 12 March 2015. 

References

  1. ↑ Craven. "New combinations in Melaleuca for Australian species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)." 2006, vol. 16, no4, pp. 468-475.
  2. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 92–93. ISBN 1876334983.
  3. 1 2 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. 394. ISBN 9781922137517.
  4. ↑ "Melaleuca zonalis". APNI. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "ζώνη". Wiktionary. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Melaleuca zonalis Craven". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, January 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.