Melaleuca sheathiana
| Silver Cajuput | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Melaleuca |
| Species: | M. sheathiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Melaleuca sheathiana W.Fitzg | |
Melaleuca sheathiana, commonly known as boree is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to central and south-western Western Australia. It is similar to Melaleuca pauperiflora except that it has small, spoon-shaped leaves.
Description
Melaleuca sheathiana is a shrub or small tree growing to a height of 7 m (20 ft) with papery bark. The leaves are arranged alternately, 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, 0.9–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) wide, narrow spoon shaped, almost circular in cross section and with a rounded or blunt point on the end.[1]
The flowers are cream or white, arranged in heads or short spikes with 4 to 11 individual flowers, the spike up to 15 mm (0.6 in) in diameter. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower and there are 9 to 14 stamens per bundle. The main flowering season is spring and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules 2.8–4.1 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long in clusters along the stem.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca sheathiana was first formally described in 1902 by William Fitzgerald in "Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Western Australia".[3] The specific epithet (sheathiana) is to honour Jeremiah Sheath, an early Superintendent of King's Park in Perth.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Boree occurs in and between the Lake Barlee, Lake Cronin and Rawlinna districts[1] in the Coolgardie, Mallee and Murchison biogeographic regions[4] where it grows in sandy, clayey or loamy soils on stony hillsides and dunes.[5]
Conservation
Melaleuca sheathiana is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[4]
Uses
Horticulture
Boree is a useful shrub for hedges and windbreaks in temperate climates. It grows well in most well-drained soils and it is frost hardy.[2]
Essential oils
The leaves of this species contain a number of essential oils, the most abundant being alpha-Pinene and 1,8-cineole (Eucalyptol).[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 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. 324. ISBN 9781922137517.
- 1 2 Holliday, Ivan (2004). Melaleucas : a field and garden guide (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Reed New Holland Publishers. p. 210. ISBN 1876334983.
- ↑ "Melaleuca sheathiana". APNI. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- 1 2 "Melaleuca sheathiana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
- ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 397. ISBN 0646402439.