Melaleuca subulatus

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids >  Myrtaceae > Melaleuca  subulata

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:               Dwarf Bottlebrush

Conservation status:   unknown

Etymology:   

• Melaleuca is derived from the Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas) meaning "dark" or "black" and λευκός (leukós) meaning "white"

• The specific epithet (subulata) refers to the subulate shape of the leaves

Flowers:                  

• The flowers are a deep crimson colour

• Are arranged in spikes at the end of, or around the branches which continue to grow after flowering

• The spikes are 30–60 mm in diameter and 40–80 mm long with 20 to 80 individual flowers

• The petals are 2.5–5.2 mm long and fall off as the flower ages and there are 16-27 stamens in each flower

• Flowering occurs from November to May

Fruit:                         

• Woody capsules, 3–5.1 mm long and 4–5 mm in diameter

Leaves:         

•  Its leaves are arranged alternately and are 18–50 mm long, 1–3.1 mm wide

• Cylindrical or shaped like a bradawl

Stem & branches: 

• A shrub growing to 1–2 m high with hard, fibrous bark

Roots:         

• x

Habit:        

• It is a small, spreading shrub with hard bark, dense foliage, cylindrical leaves and spikes of dark crimson flowers in summer

Habitat:   

• It grows in creek beds and on the banks of streams in forests 

Distribution:                  

•  Endemic to south eastern Australia

• Occurs in and between the Heathcote and Mittagong districts in NSW and East Gippsland in Victoria

Species:                     

• World:            S,    G

• Australia:      S,    G

Additional notes:     

Taxonomy

• •  Itwas first named in 2006 by Lyndley Craven in Novon when Callistemon subulatus was transferred to the present genus

  • Callistemon subulatus was first formally described by botanist Edwin Cheel in 1925 in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW Series

  • Callistemon subulatus is regarded as a synonym of Melaleuca subulata by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

• Use in horticulture

  • Melaleuca subulata is commonly cultivated because of it abundant, attractive flowers. It is hardy but benefits from the application of low-phosphorus fertiliser

Sources of information:

• (2023)