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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Family: Myrtaceae
Melaleuca pauperiflora

Citation: F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt.,4ust. 3:116 (1862).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Boree.

Description:
Shrub or small tree to 4 m high, glabrous except for the softly pubescent young shoots; leaves alternate, compressed to subterete, 3-12 mm long, c. 1 mm broad, rounded or with a small eccentric point at the apex, smooth with glands and nerves invisible; petiole terete, 0.5-1 mm long.

Flowers in 3-8 monads in spikes which are either basal on new shoots and subtended by several scarious ovate bracts in 4 series or on expanded stems with bracts more or less leaf-like, the axis growing on; bracteoles deciduous, narrowly ovate-acuminate, scarious, c. 1 mm long; hypanthium cup-shaped, c. 2 mm long; sepals triangular, c. 1 mm long, with scarious margins; stamens in bundles of 7-15, white; claw c. 0.5 mm long; free parts of filaments 2.5-3.5 mm long, in 2 series.

Fruit nearly globular, 3-5 mm in diam., pale-coloured, in clusters or short spikes on woody stems.

Distribution:    W.Aust.

Conservation status: native

Flowering time: apparently irregularly but often in spring.


SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Two cryptic species appear to be confused under M. pauperiflora. One entity, including the type, has flowers in condensed basal spikes subtended by the bracts of the resting bud; the other produces flowers in leafy terminal spikes on expanded stems and has relatively smaller fruits. The two are sympatric and both apparently occur in S.Aust. M. sheathiana W. Fitzg., J. Proc. Muell. Bot. Soc. W. Aust. 1, 9:16 (1902), was treated by Carrick & Chorney (1979) as a synonym for this species but further work is needed on its identity.

Author: Not yet available


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