Melaleuca squamophloia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the black soil plains of south eastern Queensland in Australia. Like its close relative Melaleuca styphelioides, it is a small, erect tree with prickly leaves and spikes of cream or white flowers but its bark is hard rather than papery and the leaves have fewer veins than that species.
Melaleuca squamophloia is a shrub or small tree growing to 7 m (20 ft) high, with hard, scaly or fibrous bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately, 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long, 1.6–3.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide, narrow egg-shaped with the end tapering to a sharp, prickly point and with 3 to 15 veins.[2][3]
The flowers are white or cream-coloured and are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and on the sides of the branches. Each spike contains 5 to 16 individual flowers and is up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter. The petals are 1.5–1.8 mm (0.06–0.07 in) long and fall off as the flower opens or soon after. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 15 to 20 stamens. Flowering occurs in spring and from April to June, and is followed by fruit which are woody, almost spherical capsules, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca squamophloia was first named in 1997 by Lyndley Craven and Bryan Barlow in Novon.[4][5] It was first formally described in 1984 as Melaleuca styphelioides var. squamophloia by Norman Byrnes.[6] The specific epithet (squamophloia) is from the Latin word squama meaning "scale"[7]: 746 and the Ancient Greek word φλοιός (phloiós) meaning “bark”[7]: 123 referring to the bark of this species which is hard and scaly.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This melaleuca occurs on the black soil plains in and between the Miles, Jandowae and Tara districts of south east Queensland. It grows in woodland and scrubland in clay and clay loam.[2]
References
^ ab"Melaleuca squamophloia". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
^ abcdBrophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. p. 337. ISBN9781922137517.
^ abHolliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 274. ISBN1876334983.
^Craven, L. A.; Barlow, B. A. (1997). "New Taxa and New Combinations in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 7 (2): 118. doi:10.2307/3392182. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
^"Melaleuca squamophloia". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
^"Melaleuca styphelioides var. squamophloia". APNI. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
^ abBrown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
January 21, 2023
melaleuca, squamophloia, plant, myrtle, family, myrtaceae, endemic, black, soil, plains, south, eastern, queensland, australia, like, close, relative, melaleuca, styphelioides, small, erect, tree, with, prickly, leaves, spikes, cream, white, flowers, bark, har. Melaleuca squamophloia is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the black soil plains of south eastern Queensland in Australia Like its close relative Melaleuca styphelioides it is a small erect tree with prickly leaves and spikes of cream or white flowers but its bark is hard rather than papery and the leaves have fewer veins than that species Melaleuca squamophloiaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MyrtalesFamily MyrtaceaeGenus MelaleucaSpecies M squamophloiaBinomial nameMelaleuca squamophloia Byrnes Craven 1 Synonyms 1 Melaleuca styphelioides var squamophloia Byrnes Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy and naming 3 Distribution and habitat 4 ReferencesDescription EditMelaleuca squamophloia is a shrub or small tree growing to 7 m 20 ft high with hard scaly or fibrous bark Its leaves are arranged alternately 4 12 mm 0 2 0 5 in long 1 6 3 5 mm 0 06 0 1 in wide narrow egg shaped with the end tapering to a sharp prickly point and with 3 to 15 veins 2 3 Habit on the side of the Jandowae Kingaroy Road Fruit Bark The flowers are white or cream coloured and are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and on the sides of the branches Each spike contains 5 to 16 individual flowers and is up to 20 mm 0 8 in in diameter The petals are 1 5 1 8 mm 0 06 0 07 in long and fall off as the flower opens or soon after There are five bundles of stamens around the flower each with 15 to 20 stamens Flowering occurs in spring and from April to June and is followed by fruit which are woody almost spherical capsules 2 5 3 5 mm 0 098 0 14 in long 2 3 Taxonomy and naming EditMelaleuca squamophloia was first named in 1997 by Lyndley Craven and Bryan Barlow in Novon 4 5 It was first formally described in 1984 as Melaleuca styphelioides var squamophloia by Norman Byrnes 6 The specific epithet squamophloia is from the Latin word squama meaning scale 7 746 and the Ancient Greek word floios phloios meaning bark 7 123 referring to the bark of this species which is hard and scaly 2 Distribution and habitat EditThis melaleuca occurs on the black soil plains in and between the Miles Jandowae and Tara districts of south east Queensland It grows in woodland and scrubland in clay and clay loam 2 References Edit a b Melaleuca squamophloia Plants of the World Online Retrieved 8 September 2021 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 337 ISBN 9781922137517 a b Holliday Ivan 2004 Melaleucas a field and garden guide 2nd ed Frenchs Forest N S W Reed New Holland Publishers p 274 ISBN 1876334983 Craven L A Barlow B A 1997 New Taxa and New Combinations in Melaleuca Myrtaceae Novon 7 2 118 doi 10 2307 3392182 Retrieved 9 June 2015 Melaleuca squamophloia APNI Retrieved 9 June 2015 Melaleuca styphelioides var squamophloia APNI Retrieved 9 June 2015 a b Brown Roland Wilbur 1956 The Composition of Scientific Words Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melaleuca squamophloia amp oldid 1043107347, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
