Melaleuca bisulcata

Melaleuca bisulcata is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the a relatively small area on the west coast of Western Australia. It is difficult to distinguish this species from Melaleuca psammophila except on differences in the shape of the calyx lobes.

Melaleuca bisulcata
M. bisulcata in Kalbarri National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. bisulcata
Binomial name
Melaleuca bisulcata

Description

Melaleuca bisulcata is a shrub growing to a height of 1.3 m (4 ft). The leaves are crowded, arranged alternately and 4.8–7.2 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 0.9–1.7 mm (0.04–0.07 in) wide.[1][2]

The flowers are arranged in heads at the ends of branches, with the branch continuing to grow after flowering. Each head has 1 to 4 groups of flowers in pairs or threes. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around each flower, 6 to 12 stamens per bundle, coloured pink, purple or magenta. Flowering occurs in September and October and the fruit which follow are woody capsules 4.8–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.[1][2]

M. bisulcata foliage and flowers
M. bisulcata fruit

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca bisulcata was first formally described in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from a specimen found "in the desert near the Murchison River by Augustus Oldfield".[3][4] The specific epithet (bisulcata) is from the Latin bi‑ meaning "two" and sulcatus, "furrowed" or "grooved", referring to the dried leaves often having two longitudinal grooves".[2]

Distribution and habitat

This melaleuca occurs in the Kalbarri district in the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of Western Australia. It grows in sand, clayey sand and gravel over laterite on sandplains and roadsides.[5]

Conservation status

Melaleuca bisulcata is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

References
  1. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 228. ISBN 978-1876334987.
  2. 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. 89. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. "Melaleuca bisulcata". APNI. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  4. Ferdinand, Mueller (1862). "Melaleuca bisulcata". Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. 3 (21): 118. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca sulcata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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