Melaleuca phoenicea

Melaleuca phoenicea
Melaleuca phoenicea in the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species: M. phoenicea
Binomial name
Melaleuca phoenicea
(Lindl.) Craven
Synonyms

Callistemon phoeniceus Lindl.

Melaleuca phoenicea, commonly known as scarlet bottlebrush or lesser bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. (Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon phoeniceus.)[1] It is a shrub with thick, blue-green leaves and spikes of scarlet bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.

Description

Melaleuca phoenicea is a large shrub or small tree growing to 6 metres (20 ft) high. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 31–114 millimetres (1–4 in) long, 3–10 millimetres (0.1–0.4 in) wide, flat and linear to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base. The leaves thick and bluish-green and have a mid-vein, 11-18 indistinct lateral veins and prominent oil glands.[2][3][4]

The flowers are brilliant red or rich scarlet and are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and also on the sides of the branches. The spikes are 50–65 millimetres (2–3 in) in diameter with 15 to 55 individual flowers. The petals are 2.9–7.3 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. There are 39-56 stamens in each flower. Flowering occurs mainly from October to January but also at other times of the year and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, 4.3–6 millimetres (0.17–0.24 in) long.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca phoenicea was first named in 2006 by Lyndley Craven in Novon when Callistemon phoeniceus was transferred to the present genus.[5][6] It had been formally described in 1839 by botanist John Lindley in "A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony" as Callistemon phoeniceum, later revised to Callistemon phoeniceus.The specific epithet (pheonicea) is from the Latin word phoeniceus meaning "purple-red"[7] referring to the flower colour.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca phoenicea grows in the south west of Western Australia but there are also scattered populations in some of the more arid areas of that state.[2] It grows in sandy soils, often along watercourses.[8][9]

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca phoenicea is often cultivated as Callistemon phoeniceus. It is hardy and will grow in most soils provided there is adequate moisture and exposure to the sun. It benefits from light pruning and the application of fertiliser.[4][10]

References

  1. ↑ Udovicic, Frank; Spencer, Roger (2012). "New combinations in Callistemon (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Muelleria 30 (1): 23–25. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 280. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. 1 2 "Callistemon phoeniceus". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Mullins, E. "Callistemon phoeniceus". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Melaleuca phoenicea". APNI. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Craven, Lyn A. (2006). "New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon 16 (4): 473. doi:10.3417/1055-3177(2006)16[468:NCIMFA]2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "phoeniceus". Wiktionary. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Callistemon phoeniceus". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  9. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 350. ISBN 0646402439.
  10. ↑ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 193. ISBN 0002165759.
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