Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii, commonly known as the scarlet honey myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. In 1990, the species Melaleuca fulgens was separated into 3 subspecies. Of the two subspecies occurring in the south-west, this one has the narrower distribution, occurring mainly near Geraldton. As with the other subspecies, this one is notable for its showy flowers which are usually red but its foliage and fruits are also attractive features.

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Scarlet honey myrtle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. fulgens
Subspecies:
M. f. subsp. steedmanii
Trinomial name
Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii
(C.A.Gardner) K.J.Cowley

Description

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii is a woody shrub growing to a height of up to 3 metres (10 ft) and sometimes a width of 3 metres (10 ft), with glabrous branchlets. Its leaves are blue-green and arranged in alternating pairs at right angles to those immediately above and below (decussate) so that the leaves are in four rows along the stems. The leaves are 10–40 millimetres (0.4–2 in) long, 0.7–5.5 millimetres (0.03–0.2 in) wide, narrow egg-shaped with a rounded end but with a small, distinct point in the middle. Sometimes the edges of the leaves are turned under, giving the appearance of a linear shape.[1][2]

The flowers are usually bright red, but sometimes other shades of red, pink or white and are arranged in spikes on the sides of the branches. The spikes are up to 40 millimetres (2 in) in diameter and 40 millimetres (2 in) long. Each spike contains 6 to 20 individual flowers arranged in a decussate pattern. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 22 to 80 stamens. The stamen filaments are 7.5–13 millimetres (0.3–0.5 in)long. The flowers appear from July to December but mostly in September and October although flowering time is irregular. The fruits which follow the flowers are woody capsules, shaped like a squashed urn and arranged in alternating pairs along the stems.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii was first formally described in 1928 by Charles Austin Gardner in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia as Melaleuca steedmanii.[3] In 1990, in a review of the species by Kirsten Cowley, Frances Quinn, Bryan Barlow and Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany,[4] Melaleuca steedmanii was recognised as Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii.[5] The specific epithet (steedmanii) honours Henry Steedman, a Scottish-born Australian botanist.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii occurs in and between the Watheroo and Wannoo districts near Geraldton in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions.[6] It grows in heath and grassy shrubland in sand, loam or lateritic soil near granite outcrops and on sandplains.[7]

References
  1. Brophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses. Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. pp. 172–173. ISBN 9781922137517.
  2. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-1876334987.
  3. "Melaleuca steedmanii". APNI. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. Cowley, KJ; Quinn, FC; Barlow, BA; Craven, LA (1990). "Contributions to a revision of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae): 7–10". Australian Systematic Botany. 3 (2): 172. doi:10.1071/SB9900165. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  5. "Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii". APNI. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  6. "Melaleuca fulgens subsp. steedmanii". 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. 393. ISBN 978-0646402437.
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