Melaleuca densispicata is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is native to Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. It is a dense, woody shrub or tree with papery or scaly bark, sharp pointed leaves and dense flower spikes. It is uncommon throughout its range and was not formally described until 1984.
| Melaleuca densispicata | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. densispicata
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| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca densispicata | |
Description edit
Melaleuca densispicata grows to a height of 4 m (10 ft), sometimes to 5 m (20 ft). Its leaves are in alternating pairs (decussate), each leaf measuring 3–13.5 mm (0.1–0.5 in) long, 0.6–1.2 mm (0.02–0.05 in) wide, linear to narrow elliptic in shape, glabrous and lacking a stalk.
The flowers are white and arranged on a dense spike up to 40 mm (2 in) long, usually at the end of branches which continue to grow after the flowering period. Each spike contains between 5 and 24 flowers, each flower with five bundles of stamens, each bundle with 8 to 15 stamens. Flowering mainly occurs from September to December but also from February to May. The fruit are woody capsules about 2.2–2.6 mm (0.087–0.10 in) long, densely packed together.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Melaleuca densispicata was first formally described by Byrnes in 1984 in Austrobaileya.[4][5] The specific epithet (densispicata) is from the Latin densus (dense) and spica (spike) referring to the flowers being close together in the inflorescence".[2]
Distribution and habitat edit
Melaleuca densispicata occurs in disjunct populations on the western Darling Downs in Queensland[3] and on the North West Slopes, North West Plains and Far North West Plains in New South Wales.[6] It grows on plains in low-lying areas and along stream channels in heavy clay soils.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Melaleuca densispicata". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ a b 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. 145. ISBN 9781922137517.
- ^ a b Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-1876334987.
- ^ "Melaleuca densispicata". APNI. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Byrnes, N.B. (1984). "A revision of Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in northern and eastern Australia, 1". Austrobaileya. 2 (1): 74. JSTOR 41739162.
- ^ a b Wilson, Peter G. "Melaleuca densispicata". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 26 March 2015.