Melaleuca violacea

Melaleuca violacea
Melaleuca violacea leaves and flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species: M. violacea
Binomial name
Melaleuca violacea
Schauer

Melaleuca violacea is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, straggly, prostrate to semi-prostrate shrub with purple flowers and star-shaped fruit.

Description

Melaleuca aspalathoides usually grows to a height of less than 1.5 metres (5 ft) with many horizontal, layered branches. Its leaves are in opposite pairs, glabrous, heart-shaped to oblong or oval and variable in size, usually 5–15 millimetres (0.2–0.6 in) long and with a short stalk or lacking a stalk (that is, sessile).

Purple or violet flowers appear on old wood, individually or in groups of up to six and usually in spring. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle with up to 25 stamens. The base of the flower is glabrous, 1.5–2 millimetres (0.06–0.08 in) long.

The woody capsules are 2.5–3 millimetres (0.1–0.1 in) long, 4–6 millimetres (0.2–0.2 in) in diameter and the persistent sepals produce a star shape when the fruits are viewed end-on.[1][2]

Melaleuca violacea growing at Cape Riche
Melaleuca violacea flowers and fruits

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1844 by Johannes Conrad Schauer in Plantae Preissianae.[3] The specific epithet (violacea) is from the Latin violaceus meaning "having a violet colour" or "the colour of violets".[4]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca violacea occurs from Ravensthorpe to Walpole and as far inland as the Stirling Range and Ongerup district.[1] It grows in sandy or clayey soils over limestone or laterite on low ridges, undulating terrain and swamps.[5][6]

Conservation

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

Use in horticulture

A form of this species known as the table top form grows to a height of 50 centimetres (20 in) and spreads to 1.5 metres (60 in). It is grown from cuttings to maintain its properties and is hardy. It grows well in full sun or semi-shade and in a wide range of soils.[7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 308–309. ISBN 1876334983.
  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. 383. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. ↑ "Melaleuca violacea". APNI. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "violaceus". Wiktionary. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Melaleuca violacea". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  6. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 399. ISBN 0646402439.
  7. ↑ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 86. ISBN 0002165759.
  8. ↑ Group, Australian Plant Study (1983). Grow what basic : 200 popular Australian plants for your garden & how to grow them. Melbourne, Victoria [Australia]: Nelson. p. 144. ISBN 0170062864.

External sources

Wikispecies has information related to: Melaleuca violacea
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