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Melaleuca pungens (Melaleuca pungens)

Description

Melaleuca pungens is a shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is very prickly, with a large number of spherical, yellow flower heads. Melaleuca pungens grows to about 0.5–1.0 m (2–3 ft) high and wide. The leaves are nearly linear, 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, lack a stalk, spread in all directions and have a small, sharp point on the end making the plant exceptionally prickly. New growth is silky. The bright yellow flowers appear in September and October, are numerous and in rounded or elongated heads about 15 millimetres (0.6 in) wide. The leaves and flower stalks are covered with fine, soft hairs. The fruit are fused together in clusters, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum:

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Myrtales

            • Family: Myrtaceae

              • Genus: Melaleuca