Melaleuca lateralis

Melaleuca lateralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Melaleuca
Species:	M. lateralis
Binomial name
Melaleuca lateralis Turcz.[1]

Melaleuca lateralis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a showy shrub, well suited to horticulture, distinguished by its very small leaves and small clusters of pink flowers along the older stems.

Fruit at the Ongerup Wildflower Show

Description

Melaleuca lateralis is a bushy shrub growing to about 1.5 m (5 ft) tall. Except on the youngest growth, the leaves and branches are glabrous. The leaves are arranged alternately around the stem and are 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) long and 0.5–1.3 mm (0.02–0.05 in) wide, linear to narrow oval in shape, roughly semi-circular in cross section and usually have a blunt end.^[2]

This species flowers profusely with deep pink flowers in clusters along the stems. The clusters contain between 4 and 15 individual flowers and are up to 12 mm (0.5 in) in diameter. The petals are 1.2–2.3 mm (0.05–0.09 in) long and fall off soon after the flower opens. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 4 to 12 stamens. Flowering occurs in early spring and is followed by the fruit which are woody capsules 2.6–3 mm (0.10–0.12 in) long in loose clusters along the stem.^[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first described in 1852 by the Russian botanist Nikolai Turczaninow in Bulletin de la classe physico-mathématique de l'Académie Impériale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg.^[4][5] The specific epithet (lateralis) is "in reference to the inflorescence being inserted on the branchlets and branches below the leaves".^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca lateralis occurs in and between the Stirling Range and Lake King districts^[2][3] in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.^[6] It grows in sandy gravel on floodplains.^[7]

Conservation status

Melaleuca lateralis is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.^[6]

References

1. "Melaleuca lateralis". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
2. 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. 215. ISBN 9781922137517.
3. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 158–159. ISBN 1876334983.
4. "Melaleuca laterals". APNI. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
5. Turczaninow, Nikolai (1852). "Melaleuca lateralis". Bulletin de la classe physico-mathématique de l'Académie Impériale des sciences de Saint-Petersburg. 10: 339–340. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
6. "Melaleuca laterals". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 394. ISBN 0646402439.