''Melaleuca kunzeoides'' is a shrub in the myrtle family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

and is endemic to central Queensland in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is a rare shrub with a very limited distribution and is classified as 'vulnerable' by the Australian Government.

Description

''Melaleuca kunzeoides'' is a shrub to with papery bark and glabrous foliage, except for the youngest branchlets and leaves. The leaves are arranged alternately and are long, wide and narrow oval to oval in shape and taper to a point. The flowers are yellowish green arranged on spikes on the ends of branches and between the leaves. Each spike contains 5 to 17 individual flowers, or sometimes flowers in pairs or threes. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing 4 to 6 stamens. Flowering occurs in April and November and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules, each about long.

Taxonomy and naming

''Melaleuca kunzeoides'' was first formally described by Byrnes in 1984 in '' Austrobaileya''. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''kunzeoides'') refers to an apparent similarity of this species to one in the genus '' Kunzea''.

Distribution and habitat

''Melaleuca kunzeoides'' occurs near Adavale in central Queensland. The type specimen described by Byrnes was from about north-west of Adavale. The species occurs on private property.

Conservation status

This species has been classified as "vulnerable" by the Australian government. It is included in the IUCN Red Book of endangered plants.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15371705 kunzeoides Flora of Queensland Myrtales of Australia Vulnerable flora of Australia Plants described in 1984 Taxa named by Norman Brice Byrnes