2022 



MELALEUCA 



MELALEUCA 



oblong, %-l % in. long, with prominent midrib and dots 

 beneath: fls. rich red, in spikes 2 in. long and about as 

 wide, the axis growing out as a leafy shoot; stamens 

 %-l in. long, including the claw of about Kin.: fr. 

 sessile by a broad base. May-Oct. L.B.C. 2:199. 

 One of the most popular, with pleasing foliage and gor- 

 geous bloom. 



2. lateritia, Otto. Graceful shrub with many slender 

 branches, 6-12 ft.: Ivs. alternate, linear, acute, K~/4in. 

 long, quite nerveless: fls. rich scarlet, in cylindric 

 spikes about 2K in. long and forming the base of leafy 

 branches; stamens %in. long, the claw very short: fr. 

 sessile. Grown for its graceful habit and for the soft 

 color of its fls. 



3. Wflsonii, F. Muell. Tall elegant shrub, glabrous 

 or slightly pubescent: Ivs. opposite, imbricate on twigs, 



2346. Melaleucas: 1, M. hypericifolia; 2, M. decussata; 

 3, M. Leucadendron. 



linear, acute, J^-Kin. long: fls. red, scattered or in 

 loose spikes; stamens J^in. long: fr. sessile. B.M. 6131. 



BB. Fls. white, blue, lilac, or pink, 

 c. Lvs. mostly opposite. 



4. linariifolia, Smith. Tall shrub or tree, pubescent 

 only on young parts: Ivs. rigid, broad-linear, acuminate, 

 mostly 1-1 J4 in. long, the midrib prominent beneath: 

 fls. white, in pairs in spikes 1-1 K in. long, these at 

 first terminal but the shoot soon continuing; stamens 

 K~/4in. long, the long claws emitting short filaments 

 along their entire length: fr. narrow at base but sessile. 



5. decussata, R. Br. Fig. 2346. Spreading shrub, to 

 20 ft., bright green and glabrous: Ivs. lanceolate to 

 oblong, narrowed at base, J^-^in. long, 1 line wide : fls. 

 lilac, in cylindric spikes 1 in. or less long, the axis grow- 

 ing out as a leafy shoot, or the clusters globose and lat- 

 eral or terminal when the fls. are sterile; stamens J^in. 

 long, very shortly united in bundles of 10-15: fr. broad 

 at base, partly embedded in the thickened rachis. B.M. 

 2268. L.B.C. 13:1208. Grown in large grounds, 

 where the spreading branches and pendulous twigs 

 may develop to best advantage. 



cc. Lvs. mostly alternate or spiral. 

 D. Length of Ivs. mostly over ^in. 



6. Leucadendron, Linn. (M. Cajuputi, Roxbg. M. 

 latifdlia,~Rausch). CAJUPUTTREE. PUNK TREE. SWAMP 

 TEA TREE. Fig. 2346. Large tree with thick spongy 

 bark and pendulous branchlets (branches rigid and erect 

 in small plants), either glabrous or the young shoots 

 silky: Ivs. elliptic or oblong, tapering to each end, 2-4 

 or 8 in. long, K~%in. wide, with 3-7 parallel nerves 

 and numerous cross- veinlets: fls. creamy-white (vary- 

 ing to pink and purple in Austral.); the spikes lJ^-4 in. 

 long, 1 in. wide, the axis growing out only after flower- 

 ing; stamens nearly Kin. long. June-Oct. G.M. 

 40:798. Bot. Cook's First Voy. 112. Maiden, For. 

 Fl. N. S. W. 15. This tree withstands salt-water, 

 wind, drought, and slight frosts. The Ivs. of certain 

 forms yield the well-known green aromatic cajuput 

 oil used in medicine. The bark is pale buff and peels 

 off in many thin layers; it is very durable and almost 

 impervious to water; it is valuable for packing frs. and 

 is used for roofs and boats. A low, pyramidal form with 

 narrow Ivs. and silky fls. is sometimes listed as var. 

 minor, Hort. 



7. styphelioides, Smith. Becoming a tall tree, with 

 thick spongy bark, glabrous except the silky young 

 shoots and infl. : Ivs. ovate, sessile by a broad base, 

 rigidly acuminate, often somewhat twisted, K~%in. 

 long, nearly J^in. wide, many-nerved: fls. creamy 

 white, in dense spikes 1 or 2 in. long, the axis growing 

 out before flowering is over; stamens 4 lines long: fr. 



globose, crowned by the persistent calyx-teeth. 

 Grown at San Diego; a subject worthy of 

 much wider use. 



8. armillaris, Smith (M. dlba, Hort.). Tall 

 graceful shrub with slender leafy twigs, glabrous 

 throughout: Ivs. narrowly linear, K~/in. long, 

 not 1 line wide, the tip very slender and usually 

 curved: fls. white, in cylindric spikes often 2 in. 

 or more long, the axis protruding and leafy 

 before the buds open; stamens J^in. long, the 

 ribbon-like claw about equaling the distinct fila- 

 ments: caps, with broad base partly embedded 

 in the rachis. Bot. Cook's First Voy. 114. 

 The best of the white-fld. melaleucas, especially 

 because of its slender drooping branchlets and 

 absence of barren twigs. The knotted fr.-clus- 

 ters, so objectionable in some species, are not 

 evident in this. 



DD. Length of Ivs. mostly Y^in. or less. 



9. parvifldra, Lindl. (M. Preissiana, Schau.). Tree 

 or tafi shrub, glabrous or the young parts pubescent: 

 Ivs. thick, rigid, lanceolate or broadly linear, very 

 acute, about K m - long, the nerves obscure: fls. white, 

 in loose spikes 1 in. or less long: fr. globose, narrowed 

 to the base. June-Oct. M. armillaris and M. erici- 

 folia are often erroneously labeled M. Preissiana in 

 Calif, gardens and nurseries. 



10. Huegelii, Endl. Erect rigid shrub, 6-15 ft., 

 nearly glabrous: Ivs. spirally arranged, appressed, over- 

 lapping, sessile, ovate, acute, J^in. or less long, striate 

 with 3-7 nerves: fls. white (or buds pink), in dense 

 spikes 1-5 in. long by about %in. wide, the rachis 

 growing out before the buds open; stamens 4 or 5 

 lines long, the conspicuous claw ending in 7-11 fila- 

 ments: frs. globose, with broad base partly embedded 

 in the rachis, crowded into a cylindric spike. Inter- 

 esting chiefly because of its oddity. 



11. ericifdlia, Smith. Small tree, either glabrous or 

 pubescent, the bark thick and soft: Ivs. not rigid, 

 usually recurved from the middle, narrowly linear or 

 nearly cylindric, rather obtuse, about Kin. long: fls. 

 yellowish white, the spikes K~l in- lng and less than 

 Kin. wide, the rachis soon growing out, or the sterile 

 fls. in nearly globular terminal heads; stamens M m - 



