Melaleuca lophantha

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Callistemon roseus
• Callistemon salignus f. hebestachys
• Callistemon salignus
• Melaleuca salicina
• Callistemon lophanthus
• Callistemon salignus var. hebestachyus
• Metrosideros lophantha
• Metrosideros saligna
• Callistemon amoenus
• Callistemon leptostachyus
• Callistemon salignus var. roseus
• Callistemon salignus var. angustifolius
• Melaleuca pithyoides
• Callistemon lanceolatus var. lophanthus

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Melaleuca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning two different continents. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in the nations of Kenya and Uganda. Its presence extends significantly to the southern hemisphere within the country of Australia. Specifically, it inhabits the regions of New South Wales and Queensland. These diverse locations demonstrate the plant's ability to thrive in varied environments across the globe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melaleuca lophantha is characterized by its adaptability to a diverse vertical distribution within its native landscape, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the species is capable of thriving in both lowland coastal or riparian environments and mid-altitude montane habitats. By occupying a gradient from 0 m AMSL to 1000 m AMSL, the plant likely interfaces with various microclimates, allowing it to persist in diverse soil types and moisture regimes associated with different altitudinal zones. Such ecological plasticity enables the species to navigate varying levels of atmospheric pressure, temperature fluctuations, and precipitation patterns typically encountered across this 1000-meter vertical span.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Melaleuca lophantha is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, it exhibits a life form categorized as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennable buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems. Additionally, its botanical classification includes characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting a specific scale of its woody architecture within its ecological niche.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melaleuca lophantha is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, exhibiting a sturdy, self-supporting structure. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial habit, though its ecological niche can span aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 15 meters. It is strictly self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine, ensuring a stable, upright presence in its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melaleuca lophantha is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure exhibits specific morphological dimensions regarding its foliage, where the leaves demonstrate a notable range in size. The leaf length typically averages 6.75 cm, with individual measurements ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. Complementing these longitudinal dimensions, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1.4 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 0.7 cm. These precise leaf dimensions and the C3 metabolic framework collectively define the plant's physiological capacity for growth and environmental adaptation.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.75 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

1.4 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melaleuca lophantha is characterized by a distinct flowering period and the production of extremely minute seeds. The flowering cycle typically begins in September and continues through November, although the timing can be variable across different seasons. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that are remarkably small in scale; the average seed mass is approximately 2.58e-05 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 2e-05 g to a maximum of 3e-05 g.

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Nov

Seed mass max:

3e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

2.58e-05 g

Seed mass min:

2e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Melaleuca lophantha has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include L76, Monoterpene.

L76

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Monoterpene

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Activities

Melaleuca lophantha has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Cytotoxic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie