Melaleuca societatis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a dwarf shrub with small, fleshy leaves and many heads of pink or purple flowers in spring, followed by "soccer-ball" fruit.
| Melaleuca societatis | |
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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. societatis
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| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca societatis | |
Description
editMelaleuca societatis is a small shrub growing to 0.7 m (30 in) high, rarely to 2 m (80 in). Its leaves are 3.5–8.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 0.8–1.5 mm (0.03–0.06 in) wide, linear to oblong in shape, roughly circular in cross section and with a blunt end.[2][3]
The flowers are a shade of deep pink to purple and arranged in heads or short spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and sometimes also in the upper leaf axils. Each head contains 4 to 9 groups of flowers in threes and is up to 12 mm (0.5 in) in diameter. The petals are 1.0–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 3 to 6 stamens. Flowering occurs between August and January and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long in small, tight, spherical clusters along the stem.[2][3]
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Taxonomy and naming
editMelaleuca societatis was first formally described in 1999 by Lyndley Craven in Australian Systematic Botany from a specimen collected 16 kilometres (10 mi) south of Lake King.[4][5] The specific epithet (societatis) is from the Latin word "societas" meaning "association" or "community",[6] referring to the appearance of the fruiting clusters which look like an Association (soccer) football.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis melaleuca occurs in and between the Stirling Range, Jerramungup, Salmon Gums and Israelite Bay districts[2] in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions[7] where it grows sand, clay or loam in mallee shrubland.[8]
Conservation status
editMelaleuca societatis is listed as "Not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Melaleuca societatis". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d 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. 328. 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. 258–259. ISBN 1876334983.
- ^ Craven, L. A.; Lepschi, B. J. (1999). "Enumeration of the species and infraspecific taxa of Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) occurring in Australia and Tasmania". Australian Systematic Botany. 12 (6): 904. doi:10.1071/SB98019.
- ^ "Melaleuca societatis". APNI. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 222.
- ^ a b "Melaleuca societatis". 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. 397. ISBN 0646402439.