Melaleuca radula
Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Speciesbox Melaleuca radula, commonly known as graceful honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open, spreading shrub with narrow leaves, profuse pink or purple flowers in late winter and smooth, almost spherical fruits.
Description
Melaleuca radula is a spreading shrub, growing to Script error: No such module "convert". tall with coarse bark. Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that they make four rows along the branches. The leaves are Script error: No such module "convert". long, Script error: No such module "convert". wide, linear to elliptic in shape with the sides turned up so that they are crescent moon-shaped in cross section. There are prominent oil glands on the lower surface.[1][2]
The flowers are white or more usually a shade of pink to mauve. They are arranged in pairs of up to 5, the flowers on opposite sides of the branches forming a spike up to Script error: No such module "convert". long and Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. The petals are Script error: No such module "convert". long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 30 to 90 stamens giving the spike a fluffy appearance. Flowering mostly occurs from July to September, and is followed by fruit which are woody, almost spherical capsules, Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter in clusters along the stem.[1][2]
.JPG){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca radula was first formally described in 1839 by John Lindley in an appendix to Edwards Botanical Register entitled A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[3] The specific epithet (radula) is derived from Latin word meaning “a scraper”[4] but it is not clear why Lindley chose this name.[1]Template:Wikisource/outer coreScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Distribution and habitat
This melaleuca occurs in and between the Kalbarri, Perth and Norseman districts[1] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Murchison, Swan Coastal Plain and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[5] It grows in sandy and gravelly soils often near granite or laterite and near creeks and streams.[6]
Conservation
Melaleuca radula is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]
Aboriginal (Noongar) uses
The leaves were boiled with water to make antiseptic mouthwashes for treating sore gums and for external application to sores and other skin problems. Internally, the decoction was used for upset stomachs and indigestion. Young leaves were chewed for headaches.[7]
The compound, terpinen-4-ol, is thought to be responsible for the antibacterial and antiseptic quality of the melaleuca oil.[7][8]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "EditAtWikidata".Template:WikidataCheck
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Template:Cite Q
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".