Melaleuca incana subsp. incana
| Melaleuca incana subsp. incana | |
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| Melaleuca incana subsp. incana growing near Point d'Entrecasteaux. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | M. i. subsp. incana
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| Trinomial name | |
| Melaleuca incana subsp. incana | |
Melaleuca incana subsp. incana, commonly known as grey honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family
Description
Melaleuca incana subsp. incana is a medium to tall shrub with weeping branches. It grows to a height of about 3 metres (10 ft) and has rough, grey bark. The leaves are in opposite pairs, sometimes rings of three, curved and crowded along the branchlets, 3.5–17 millimetres (0.1–0.7 in) long and 0.5–3.5 millimetres (0.02–0.1 in) wide, linear or very narrow elliptic in shape and tapering to a point. The leaves and young branches are covered with fine, soft hairs giving the foliage a grey appearance.[2][3]
The flowers are arranged in spikes, usually on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. Each spike has between 6 and 55 individual flowers and is up to 30 millimetres (1 in) long and 15 millimetres (0.6 in) wide, white, creamy white or yellow. The petals are 0.7–2.0 millimetres (0.03–0.08 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing between 3 and 11 stamens. Flowering mainly occurs in August to September and is followed by woody capsules 1.5–4 millimetres (0.06–0.2 in) long in cylinder-shaped clusters up to 30 millimetres (1 in) long.[2][3]
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Taxonomy and naming
This species was first described in 1819 by Robert Brown in Edward's Botanical Register.[4] Edwards called the plant "Grizzly Melaleuca" and noted that the plant was ...first observed by Mr. Brown, in King George the Third's Sound, on the south-west coast of New Holland. ... We were favoured with the specimen, for the drawing, by Lady Aylesford ... We are indebted to Mr. Brown for the specific characters, and all we know concerning the plant. The specific epithet (incana) "is from the Latin incanus, hoary, white, in reference to the colour of the leaves".[2]
Distribution and habitat
Melaleuca incana subsp. incana occurs between Albany and Jurien Bay and inland as far as the Dryandra woodland
Uses
Horticulture
Melaleuca incana subspecies incana is widely cultivated. It is a hardy plant, fast growing, tolerating a range of soils and conditions after initial establishment and is frost hardy. It is widely available in commercial nurseries and tolerates pruning to form a hedge.[7] It is susceptible to scale insect attack.[8]
References
- ^ Quinn, F.C.; Cowley, K.J.; Barlow, B.A.; Thiele, K.R. (1998). "New names and combinations for some Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) species and subspecies from the south-west of Western Australia considered rare or threatened" (PDF). Nuytsia. 8 (3): 340. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9781922137517.
- ^ ISBN 978-1876334987.
- ^ "Melaleuca incana". APNI. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Melaleuca incana". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "Melaleuca incana". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "Melaleuca incana". Australian native plant society (Australia). Retrieved 5 April 2015.
External links
- Brown, Robert (1819). The Botanical Register. London: James Ridgway. p. 410. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- Bentham, George (1867). Flora Australiensis. London: Lovell, Reeve and Co. p. 160. Retrieved 5 April 2015.