Melaleuca preissiana, commonly known as stout paperbark, modong or moonah, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to coastal areas of southwest Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with papery bark, small leaves and spikes of usually white flowers. It occurs chiefly in areas that are seasonally wet.
Description
Melaleuca preissiana is a shrub or small tree sometimes growing to 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall with papery bark or sometimes pale-coloured, hard bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long, 0.7–2.1 mm (0.03–0.08 in) wide, flat, narrow elliptic to narrow egg-shaped with the end tapering to a point.[2]
The flowers are usually white, but sometimes a shade of cream or yellow. They are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and sometimes in the upper leaf axils. The spikes are up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter with 7 to 21 groups of flowers in threes. The petals are 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower and there are 27 to 36 stamens per bundle. Flowering occurs from August to March and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long.[2]
^ abcBrophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. p. 290. ISBN9781922137517.
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