Biology:Melaleuca sheathiana
| Boree | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. sheathiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca sheathiana W.Fitzg.[1]
| |
Melaleuca sheathiana, commonly known as boree is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to central and south-western Western Australia. It is similar to Melaleuca pauperiflora except that it has small, spoon-shaped leaves.
Description
Melaleuca sheathiana is a shrub or small tree growing to a height of 7 m (20 ft) with papery bark. The leaves are arranged alternately, 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, 0.9–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) wide, narrow spoon shaped, almost circular in cross section and with a rounded or blunt point on the end.[2]
The flowers are cream or white, arranged in heads or short spikes with 4 to 11 individual flowers, the spike up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower and there are 9 to 14 stamens per bundle. The main flowering season is spring and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules 2.8–4.1 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long in clusters along the stem.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca sheathiana was first formally described in 1902 by William Fitzgerald in "Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Western Australia".[4] The specific epithet (sheathiana) is to honour Jeremiah Sheath, an early Superintendent of King's Park in Perth.[2] The common name, boree or booree, is taken from the Noongar name for the plant.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Boree occurs in and between the Lake Barlee, Lake Cronin and Rawlinna districts[2] in the Coolgardie, Mallee and Murchison biogeographic regions[6] where it grows in sandy, clayey or loamy soils on stony hillsides and dunes.[7]
Conservation
Melaleuca sheathiana is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]
Uses
Horticulture
Boree is a useful shrub for hedges and windbreaks in temperate climates. It grows well in most well-drained soils and it is frost hardy.[3]
Essential oils
The leaves of this species contain a number of essential oils, the most abundant being alpha-Pinene and 1,8-cineole (Eucalyptol).[2]
References
- ↑ "Melaleuca sheathiana". Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:598093-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 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. 324. ISBN 9781922137517.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 210. ISBN 1876334983.
- ↑ "Melaleuca sheathiana". APNI. https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/543795. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ↑ "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161120071826/http://www.kippleonline.net/bobhoward/plantsframe.html. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Melaleuca sheathiana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5966.
- ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 397. ISBN 0646402439.
Wikidata ☰ Q15371255 entry
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