Melaleuca brophyi is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small to medium-sized shrub with small, fleshy leaves and clusters of fruit that resemble soccer balls.
| Melaleuca brophyi | |
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| Near Salmon Gums | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. brophyi
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| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca brophyi | |
Description
editMelaleuca brophyi is a shrub which grows to a height of between 0.3 and 3 m (1 and 10 ft). Its leaves are crowded, spirally arranged, fleshy, warty, almost circular in cross-section and have prominent oil glands. The leaves are 5–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long.[2][3]
Small, yellow, almost spherical groups of flowers about 14 mm (0.6 in) in diameter appear on the ends of the branches between June and November. As with other melaleucas, the stamens are in groups of five and in this species there are about three to six stamens per bundle. The fruit are woody capsules in small, spherical clusters with a diameter of about 10 mm (0.4 in) and resemble soccer balls.[3]
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Taxonomy and naming
editMelaleuca brophyi was first described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven from a specimen found "about 1.8 km (1,800 m) south of Lake Biddy on the road to Newdegate".[4] The specific epithet (brophyi) is in recognition of the work of Joseph J. Brophy for his work on essential oils in the families Myrtaceae and Rutaceae.[5][6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis melaleuca occurs between Southern Cross, Norseman and Esperance[3] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions in Western Australia.[7] It grows in black clay in saline, low-lying areas.[8]
Conservation status
editMelaleuca brophyi is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Melaleuca brophyi". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ 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. 101. ISBN 9781922137517.
- ^ a b c Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. pp. 38–39. ISBN 1876334983.
- ^ "Melaleuca brophyi". APNI. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ "School of chemistry: Dr Joe Brophy". University of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ Craven, Lyndley; Lepschi, B.J. (1999). "Enumeration of the species and infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) occurring in Australia and Tasmania". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (6): 819–928. doi:10.1071/sb98019. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Melaleuca brophyi". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 392. ISBN 0646402439.