AusBonsai

Any idea what this species is? Gorgeous little pom pom flowers and graceful weeping foliage. Growing in the garden of the school out here in cecil plains, west of dalby

It is probably Melaleuca alternifolia. This is planted by many councils, as street trees on the eastern seaboard, as well as schools.

Cheers Pup

Dont think so, the flowers look quite different to the Melaleuca alternifolia pics i found

Hornet wrote:Dont think so, the flowers look quite different to the Melaleuca alternifolia pics i found

Very similar to the ones I have in my books I did say probably

Alternifolia- Looks very close to me - viewtopic.php?f=136&t=8297&start=0&hili ... ternifolia -

Hornet wrote:Dont think so, the flowers look quite different to the Melaleuca alternifolia pics i found

You ask for an ID, and then challenge someone who has been growing Melaleucas for 25 years .. find out the species your self next time

I'm sorry guys but I happen to agree with Hornet. The inflorescence of M. alternifolia is a spike 3 to 5 cm long. The spike in the picture looks less than 2mm long, and whilst this could be a natural variation, Melaleuca is a large genera containing many species of similar descriptions. The leaves are fairly ominous. They point to several species including alternifolia, linariifolia, armillaris... the list goes on. I doubt it is any of those species because the inflorescence, habit and bark are wrong. The flowers point to capitata, nodosa and many more too. It doesn't appear to be either of those though.

The hunt is still on.

Joel

Again the word POSSIBLE appears, yes there are over 250 and still counting, Melaleucas being one of the most self hybridised of the myrtales family.

Being a native to the area it could be a hybrid of many so yes the hunt goes on. It is also possibly M, bracteata, flowers are very similar, and there are quite a few cultivars.

I will bend to the greater knowledge.

Pup

Pup wrote:Again the word POSSIBLE appears, yes there are over 250 and still counting, Melaleucas being one of the most self hybridised of the myrtales family.

Being a native to the area it could be a hybrid of many so yes the hunt goes on. It is also possibly M, bracteata, flowers are very similar, and there are quite a few cultivars.

I will bend to the greater knowledge.

Pup

Hi Pup,

Sorry if my post seemed aggressive. I was merely pointing out that a definitive answer would be near impossible. I noted the word "possible".

Myrtales is an order, Myrtaceae is a family. M. bracteata has hard, fissured bark more similar of Callistemon viminalis but in a brown colour. I have checked a couple of books with no luck. Though the possibilities are endless! Especially if they hybridise.

Joel

Craig wrote:Alternifolia- Looks very close to me - viewtopic.php?f=136&t=8297&start=0&hili ... ternifolia -

Hornet wrote:Dont think so, the flowers look quite different to the Melaleuca alternifolia pics i found

You ask for an ID, and then challenge someone who has been growing Melaleucas for 25 years .. find out the species your self next time

No need to get rude, i didnt mean my post with any disrespect, was just stating what i could see, not trying to say he doesnt know what he's on about, just doesnt look like the alternifolia i have seen. I asked for an id, i dont expect the correct answer to come from one post, i thought discussion would be expected

Two more possibilities are M,groveana, and M, ericifolia both have similar charistics, as your picture both in flower shape and colour size a leaf shape.

So we still hunt.

Gday Hornet,

Why not check some of these photos out yourself? This is the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra. Their website has some interesting stuff on it.
http://www.anbg.gov.au/photo/apii/genus/Melaleuca

Good luck!

Joel

Joel wrote:

Pup wrote:Again the word POSSIBLE appears, yes there are over 250 and still counting, Melaleucas being one of the most self hybridised of the myrtales family.

Being a native to the area it could be a hybrid of many so yes the hunt goes on. It is also possibly M, bracteata, flowers are very similar, and there are quite a few cultivars.

I will bend to the greater knowledge.

Pup

Hi Pup,

Sorry if my post seemed aggressive. I was merely pointing out that a definitive answer would be near impossible. I noted the word "possible".

Myrtales is an order, Myrtaceae is a family. M. bracteata has hard, fissured bark more similar of Callistemon viminalis but in a brown colour. I have checked a couple of books with no luck. Though the possibilities are endless! Especially if they hybridise.

Joel

Thank you for that Joel I will not bother in future. As I am not studying Botany just growing trees for fun. The descriptions in the books say that Bracteata is a variable species, rough dark grey bark and loosley arranged. Normally cream flower spikes often with a leaf growing at the base of the calyx tube. Of the three books I have on Melaleucas two were purchased from the Canberra Botanical Gardens. I have 3 and each has differing Bark.