Rank Species | ||
 | ||
Similar Melaleuca carrii, Melaleuca microphylla, Melaleuca adnata, Melaleuca longistaminea, Melaleuca croxfordiae | ||
Melaleuca pentagona is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a showy, medium-sized shrub which produces large numbers of pink flowers in spring. There are three varieties recognised, one of which has been known in cultivation for many years.
Contents
Description
Melaleuca pentagona is a medium-sized shrub growing to about 5 m (20 ft) tall with papery grey or white bark. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, mostly 8–18 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 0.8–5.2 mm (0.03–0.2 in) wide, linear to narrow elliptic in shape and with a groove on the upper surface.
The flowers are a shade of pink or purple and arranged in heads at the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering and sometimes also in the upper leaf axils. The heads are up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter and contain 3 to 8 groups of flowers in threes. The petals are 0.9–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long and fall off as the flowers open. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle with 2 to 8 stamens. Flowering time varies with subspecies but in general occurs in spring and summer. The fruit are woody capsules 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long, in spherical clusters up to 20 mm (0.8 in) in diameter.
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca pentagona was first formally described in 1806 by the French biologist, Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. The specific epithet (pentagona) is from the Ancient Greek πέντε (pénte) meaning “five” and γωνία (gōnía) meaning “angle” referring to the fruiting capsules being compressed into a five-sided shape. The varieties recognised are:
Distribution and habitat
Melaleuca pentagona occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Warren biogeographic regions.
Ecology
This species of Melaleuca has become an invasive, environmental weed in some parts of Western Australia.
Conservation
This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Use in horticulture
Melaleuca pentagona var. pentagona is well known in cultivation, suitable to a range of soils and conditions.