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Melaleuca elliptica Labill.Myrtaceae (Myrtle Family)West AustraliaMelaleuca |
March Photo
Plant Characteristics: Shrub to 3 m. tall, growing wider than tall with gray-brown bark, thinly furrowed, peeling in strips; lvs. to .5-1.5 cm. long, to .9 cm wide, opposite, ovate to suborbicular, closely set, leathery, dull green above and below, scabrous, entire, petioles +/- 1 mm.; infl. in oblong or cylindrical spikes, 4-5 cm. in diam., 6 cm. long, the axis continuing as a leafy shoot; petals 5, crimson, much shorter than stamens; the five staminal bundles 2 cm. long with 18-20 crimson filaments at end; caps. 2 cm. in diam., 5.5 cm. long, brown, the calyx tube swelling and growing tightly together in the mature woody caps.; peduncle 1.5 cm.
Habitat: Escape from cultivation or planted many years ago at Shellmaker Id. near the UCI Rowing Center. Blooms spring to late summer.
Name: Greek, melaleuca, black and white, from the black trunk and white branches of one of the species. (Bailey 726). Greek, elleiptikos, elliptic. (Jaeger 90). Refers to the leaf shape. (John Johnson).
General: Rare in the study area with only one plant known and this near the UCI rowing center on Shellmaker Id. where it may have been planted years ago. (my comment). Over 100 species of Australian trees and shrubs, many grown for ornament in warm regions, some furnishing timber, and others used for fixing muddy shores. Closely allied to Callistemon and differing chiefly in the stamens which are united in 5 bundles opposite the petals. (Bailey 725). Flowers attract birds. (Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 371).
Text Ref: Bailey 726, Huxley, Vol. III 211; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984. 371.
Photo Ref: Mar-April 01 #22, 23; April-May 01 # 4,7,23.
Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.
First Found: March 2001.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 526.
Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.
Last edit 8/7/05.
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