Melichrus urceolatus, commonly known as urn heath or honey-gland heath, is a species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The species is native to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria in Australia.[3] It is an erect shrub that grows to between 0.2 and 1.5 metres in height. The white, cream or yellow-green flowers, are clustered toward the branch bases and appear between March and November in the species' native range.[3]

Melichrus urceolatus
Melichrus urceolatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Melichrus
Species:
M. urceolatus
Binomial name
Melichrus urceolatus
Synonyms

Styphelia urceolata (R.Br.) F.Muell.

The species was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[1][2]

Ecology

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It grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and scrub on skeletal and gravelly soils.[3][4] Associated tree species in Victoria include Eucalyptus macrorhyncha, E. microcarpa and E.polyanthemos.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Melichrus urceolatus". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  2. ^ a b Brown, R. 1810. Prodromus Novae Hollandiae 539. Retrieved 3 July 2018
  3. ^ a b c "Melichrus urceolatus". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  4. ^ VicFlora Flora of Victoria Melichrus urceolatus. Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria. Retrieved 3 July 2018
  5. ^ Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009.

Further reading

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  • Albrecht, D.E. (1996). Epacridaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne.