Melaleuca lanceolata
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Black paperbark
|image = Melaleuca lanceolata.jpg
|image_caption = Melaleuca lanceolata in Maranoa Gardens
|genus = Melaleuca
|species = lanceolata
|range_map=Melaleuca lanceolata Distribution Map1.png
|range_map_caption=Collections data for M. lanceolata from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
|authority = Otto{{cite web |title=Melaleuca lanceolata |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:597986-1 |publisher=Plants of the World Online |access-date=31 August 2021}}
|synonyms =
- Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. occidentalis Barlow
- Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. planifolia Barlow
- Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. thaeroides Barlow
}}
Melaleuca lanceolata commonly known as black paperbark, moonah, Rottnest Island teatree and western black tea tree is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is native to Australia where it occurs in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. It is a densely foliaged tree with rough bark, which flowers prolifically in summer.
Description
Melaleuca lanceolata is a large shrub or small tree growing up to {{convert|10|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall, with rough, dark grey bark on a trunk that is often twisted and bent by the effects of wind. Its branchlets and leaves are covered with soft, silky hairs when young but become glabrous as they mature. The leaves are arranged alternately, {{convert|3.1-12.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|0.7-1.9|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, linear to narrow elliptic in shape with a concave upper surface.{{cite book|last1=Brophy|first1=Joseph J.|last2=Craven|first2=Lyndley A.|last3=Doran|first3=John C.|title=Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses|date=2013|publisher=Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research|pages=211–212|location=Canberra|isbn=9781922137517}}{{cite book|last1=Holliday|first1=Ivan|title=Melaleucas : a field and garden guide|date=2004|publisher=Reed New Holland Publishers|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1876334983|pages=154–155|edition=2nd}}{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Peter G.|title=Melaleuca lanceolata|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Melaleuca~lanceolata|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney:PlantNet|accessdate=12 May 2015}}
The flowers are white or cream coloured and arranged in spikes on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering, sometimes also in the upper leaf axils. The spikes are up to {{convert|60|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|23|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} in diameter and contain 3 to 12 groups of flowers in threes. The petals are {{convert|1.5-3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and fall off as the flower ages. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flowers with 7 to 20 stamens per bundle. The flowering season is mainly in summer but flowers may also appear randomly through the year. The fruit that follow are smooth, almost spherical woody capsules {{convert|3-7.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long that are spaced along the branches.File:Melaleuca lanceolata foliage, flowers and fruit.jpg]]
Taxonomy and naming
Melaleuca lanceolata was first formally described in 1820 by Christoph Friedrich Otto in Horae Physicae Berolinensis.{{cite journal|last1=Otto|first1=Christoph Friedrich|title=Plantae rariores quae in Horto Regio Berolinensi a mense Ianuario ad ultimum Maium anni 1819 floruere|journal=Horae Physicae Berolinensis|date=1820|page=36|url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?view=image;size=100;id=hvd.32044106428816;page=root;seq=62;num=36|accessdate=12 May 2015}}{{cite web|title=Melaleuca lanceolata|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/512947|publisher=APNI|accessdate=12 May 2015}} The specific epithet (lanceolata) is a Latin word meaning "lancelike",{{cite book|last1=Brown|authorlink1=Roland W. Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page = 735}} referring to the shape of the leaves.
Four subspecies have been proposed for M. lanceolata - lanceolata, occidentalis, planifolia and thaeroides but Lyndley Craven suggested that "until the morphological and geographic limits of the morphs are more fully known, the complex is best treated as a single taxon". The four subspecies are recognised by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.{{WCSP | 123716 | Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. lanceolata}}{{WCSP | 123717 | Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. occidentalis}}{{WCSP | 123718 | Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. planifolia}}{{WCSP | 123719 | Melaleuca lanceolata subsp. thaeroides}}
Distribution and habitat
Melaleuca lanceolata occurs in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in mallee or open woodland. In Western Australia it is sometimes a garden escapee and has become established in bushland outside of its natural range. It is common on coastal dunes and cliffs but also inland where it grows near creeks and rivers.{{FloraBase|name=Melaleuca lanceolata|id = 5922}}{{cite web |last1=Messina |first1=Andre |title=Melaleuca lanceolata |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/915ac5c3-27a2-474d-b250-c76782e2e3bb |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |accessdate=16 August 2018}}
Conservation status
This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.
Uses
=Horticulture=
This is a free-flowering shrub or tree and is useful as an ornamental or maintenance free street tree. It is suitable as a screen or hedge.{{cite web|title=Melaleuca lanceolata|url=http://www.florabank.org.au/lucid/key/species%20navigator/media/html/Melaleuca_lanceolata.htm|publisher=Florabank|accessdate=12 May 2015}} It is hardy, resistant to salt spray and suited to most soils but needs full sun to reach its potential.{{cite book|last1=Wrigley|first1=John W.|last2=Fagg|first2=Murray|title=Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping|date=1983|publisher=Collins|location=Sydney|isbn=0002165759|edition=2}}
=Agriculture=
Moonah makes an excellent windbreak or shelterbelt or shade for stock. It is good for fence posts and the flowers are attractive to wildlife. The pollen has value in beekeeping.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q151039}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Flora of South Australia
Category:Flora of Victoria (state)
Category:Rosids of Western Australia