Melaleuca pulchella

Melaleuca pulchella, commonly known as claw flower and claw honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is one of only two species of Melaleuca to have two kinds of stamens (the other is Melaleuca violacea). The outer stamens are longer and curved, giving the appearance of a claw to the flower. It is a hardy shrub flowering over a long period, and has been a popular garden plant for many years.

habit in the Wittenoom Hills, northeast of Esperance
fruit

Claw flower
Melaleuca pulchella (foliage and flowers) in Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Melaleuca
Species:
M. pulchella
Binomial name
Melaleuca pulchella

Description

Melaleuca pulchella is a spreading shrub which may grow to 1–2 m (3–7 ft) high. The numerous arching branches bear many small leaves which are ovate to elliptic in shape and measure 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) in length by 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. The leaves are crescent moon shaped in cross section and the undersides have large oil glands.[2][3]

Appearing from September to February, sometimes in April or May, the flowers are pink to mauve in colour. They occur singly or in groups of up to four, forming small heads up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter, mostly at or near the ends of the branches. The petals are 3.8–6.6 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 45-100 stamens. Each bundle contains about 45 to 80 short, (sterile) stamens and 10 to 15 long, curved, outer stamens. Flowering is followed by fruit which are woody, urn-shaped capsules, 3.3–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and about 6 mm (0.2 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Melaleuca pulchella was first formally described in 1812 by Robert Brown , the description published by William Aiton in Hortus Kewensis.[4][1] The specific epithet (pulchella) is the Latin adjective pulchellus meaning "very pretty" (diminutive of pulcher),[5] referring to the flowers of this species.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Melaleuca pulchella occurs along Western Australia's south coast, from Hopetoun to Israelite Bay[2][3] in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.[6] It grows in sandy soils on plains, dunes and swamps.[7]

Conservation

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

Use in horticulture

Melaleuca pulchella's small size, long flowering period and widely admired flowers make it a popular plant for gardens. It prefers fair drainage and extra water[3] but is adaptable to most garden situations.[8] Unlike many Australian native plants, it is relatively tolerant of phosphates to some degree in cultivation.[9]

References
  1. "Melaleuca pulchella". APNI. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  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. 295. ISBN 9781922137517.
  3. Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 230–231. ISBN 1876334983.
  4. Aiton, William Townsend; Brown, Robert (1812). Hortus Kewensis (Volume 4) (2 ed.). London. p. 414. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 487. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
  6. "Melaleuca pulchella". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 396. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 86. ISBN 0002165759.
  9. Lullfitz, George. A new image for West Australian plants. p. 46. ISBN 0-9581346-0-X.
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