Melaleuca thapsina
| Melaleuca thapsina | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
M. thapsina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca thapsina |
|
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Melaleuca thapsina is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a prickly shrub with fibrous or papery bark, yellow to cream coloured flowers and tightly packed cylinders of fruiting capsules.
Description
Melaleuca thapsina is a shrub sometimes growing to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). tall with papery or fibrous bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). wide, linear in shape and almost circular in cross section with the tip tapering to a sharp point.[1][2]
The flowers are cream coloured to bright yellow and are arranged in heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and sometimes also in the upper leaf axils. The heads are up to Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). in diameter with 2 to 13 groups of flowers in threes. The petals are Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long and fall off as the flower matures. The outer surface of the floral cup (the hypanthium) is hairy and there are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 6 to 8 stamens. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). long, packed tightly together in spherical or oblong clusters.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca thapsina was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). north-east of Lake King on the track to Norseman.[3][4] The specific epithet (thapsina) is derived from the Ancient Greek word thapsinos meaning "yellow"[5] referring to colour of the flowers.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Melaleuca thapsina occurs in and between the Lake King, Norseman, Ravensthorpe and Esperance districts[1] in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.[6] It grows in a range of vegetation associations in sand and clay.[2]
Conservation
Melaleuca thapsina is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
