Melaleuca fulgens
Encyclopedia
Melaleuca fulgens, commonly known as the scarlet honey myrtle, is a shrub or small tree of the myrtle family myrtaceae
endemic to Western Australia
. It is notable for its showy orange, red or purple flowers. it was one of the many species first described by the botanist Robert Brown
, appearing in literature in 1812. The species name is the Latin
adjective fulgens "bright", and is related to the showy flowers. Three subspecies are recognised: the widely distributed subspecies fulgens, subspecies steedmannii (formerly considered a separate species) which is restricted to the vicinity of Geraldton, and subspecies corrugata, from a small area near the intersection of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The type specimen for subspecies corrugata was collected from Mount Woodroffe
in South Australia, where it is known as wrinkled honey-myrtle.
It is a member of Melaleuca
, a large and diverse genus whose members range from large trees such as M. quinquenervia
, to small shrubs.
Melaleuca fulgens ranges anywhere from 40 cm to 3 m (16 in - 7 ft) high. The narrow leaves are grey-green in shape and up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Appearing from late winter to summer (July to December), the flowers are shades of red, pink or white.
Growing on sandy or gravelly soils, or granite
outcrops, Melaleuca fulgens is found in a broad area across Western Australia, from Kalbarri to the vicinity of Kalgoorlie and south to the southern coastline.
Introduced into cultivation in the United Kingdom in 1803, Melaleuca fulgens is commonly grown in Australian gardens, with several hybrids also available. It is readily grown given sufficient moisture but needs good drainage as it is susceptible to fungal disease. Its attractive grey foliage and bright showy flowers are its horticultural features. Light pruning improves flowering and improves the shrub's shape. Plants may be propagated
from seed, though propagation from semi-mature cuttings is preferred for cultivars to preserve flower colour and form.
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
endemic to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is notable for its showy orange, red or purple flowers. it was one of the many species first described by the botanist Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
, appearing in literature in 1812. The species name is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective fulgens "bright", and is related to the showy flowers. Three subspecies are recognised: the widely distributed subspecies fulgens, subspecies steedmannii (formerly considered a separate species) which is restricted to the vicinity of Geraldton, and subspecies corrugata, from a small area near the intersection of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The type specimen for subspecies corrugata was collected from Mount Woodroffe
Mount Woodroffe
Mount Woodroffe is South Australia's highest peak, at 1,435 metres.- Cultural Significance :The mountain is known to the Pitjantjatjara Indigenous Australians as Ngarutjaranya....
in South Australia, where it is known as wrinkled honey-myrtle.
It is a member of Melaleuca
Melaleuca
Melaleuca is a genus of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae known for its natural soothing and cleansing properties. There are well over 200 recognised species, most of which are endemic to Australia...
, a large and diverse genus whose members range from large trees such as M. quinquenervia
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as Niaouli or Broad-leaved paperbark or the Paper Bark Tea Tree, is a small- to medium-sized tree of the allspice family, Myrtaceae. The plant is native to New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and coastal Eastern Australia, from Botany Bay in New South Wales...
, to small shrubs.
Melaleuca fulgens ranges anywhere from 40 cm to 3 m (16 in - 7 ft) high. The narrow leaves are grey-green in shape and up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long. Appearing from late winter to summer (July to December), the flowers are shades of red, pink or white.
Growing on sandy or gravelly soils, or granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
outcrops, Melaleuca fulgens is found in a broad area across Western Australia, from Kalbarri to the vicinity of Kalgoorlie and south to the southern coastline.
Introduced into cultivation in the United Kingdom in 1803, Melaleuca fulgens is commonly grown in Australian gardens, with several hybrids also available. It is readily grown given sufficient moisture but needs good drainage as it is susceptible to fungal disease. Its attractive grey foliage and bright showy flowers are its horticultural features. Light pruning improves flowering and improves the shrub's shape. Plants may be propagated
Plant propagation
Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from a variety of sources: seeds, cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts. Plant propagation can also refer to the artificial or natural dispersal of plants.-Sexual propagation :...
from seed, though propagation from semi-mature cuttings is preferred for cultivars to preserve flower colour and form.