Melaleuca shiressii
Melaleuca shiressii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in New South Wales in Australia. (Some Australian state herbaria continue to use the name Callistemon shiressii.)[2] It is rare shrub or small tree with pale, papery bark, sharp-pointed leaves and spikes of white to pale cream bottlebrush flowers in spring and summer.
| Melaleuca shiressii | |
|---|---|
| In the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. shiressii |
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca shiressii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| Callistemon shiressii Blakely | |
Description edit
Melaleuca shiressii is a shrub or small tree growing to 12 m (40 ft) high with white or grey papery bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 19–66 mm (0.7–3 in) long, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide, more or less flat, narrow elliptic or narrow egg-shaped and end in a sharp point. There is a mid-vein, marginal veins and 12–23 distinct lateral veins and there are many distinct oil glands. The edges of the leaves are often curled under and the lower surface is paler than the upper one.[3][4]
The flowers are cream or greenish-cream and are arranged in spikes at the end of, or around the branches which continue to grow after flowering. The spikes are 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) in diameter and 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long with 5 to 25 individual flowers. The petals are 1.7–3.3 mm (0.07–0.1 in) long and fall off as the flower ages and there are 48-84 stamens in each flower. Flowering occurs from September to January and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, 2.5–3.7 mm (0.098–0.15 in) long and 5 mm (0.2 in) in diameter.[3][4]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Melaleuca shiressii was first named in 2006 by Lyndley Craven in Novon when Callistemon shiressii was transferred to the present genus.[5][6] Callistemon shiressii was first formally described in 1941 by William Blakely.[7] The specific epithet (shiressii) honours David William Campbell Shiress who, with Blakely, collected the type specimen "on shale ridges about 1 mile north-west of Narara railway station".[3]
Callistemon shiressii is regarded as a synonym of Melaleuca shiressii by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.[8]
Distribution and habitat edit
Melaleuca shiressii occurs in and between the Singleton and Richmond districts in New South Wales. It grows in moist forests and on ridges .[3][4]
Gallery edit
- Habit in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Bark
- Maturing capsules
References edit
- ^ a b "Melaleuca shiressii". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Udovicic, Frank; Spencer, Roger (2012). "New combinations in Callistemon (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Muelleria. 30 (1): 23–25. doi:10.5962/p.292240. S2CID 251007557. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d 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. 325. ISBN 9781922137517.
- ^ a b c "Callistemon shiressii Blakely". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ "Melaleuca shiressii". APNI. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ 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. S2CID 84723155.
- ^ "Callistemon shiressii". APNI. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Callistemon shiressii". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.