Regelia megacephala
| Regelia megacephala | |
|---|---|
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| R. megacephala inflorescence in Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Regelia |
| Species: | R. megacephala |
| Binomial name | |
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Regelia megacephala C.A.Gardner |
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca gardneri Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Melaleuca gardneri Craven & R.D.Edwards
Regelia megacephala is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a taller shrub than others in its genus, with small, rounded leaves and clusters of purplish-red flowers from October to December.
Regelia megacephala is an erect, straggly shrub which grows to a height of 2–5 m (7–20 ft). Its leaves are small and are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that they make four rows along its long stems.
The flowers are mauve and arranged in dense heads 15 mm (0.6 in) across on the ends of long stems which continue to grow after flowering. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. Flowering occurs from September to December and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules.
Regelia megacephala was first formally described in 1964 by the Australian botanist, Charles Gardner in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. The specific epithet ("megacephala") is from the Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas) meaning "large" and κεφαλή (kephalḗ) meaning “head”.
Regelia megacephala grows in red sand on rocky quartzite hills in the Avon Wheatbelt and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions. It is closely associated with Coomberdale chert which is mined for the production of silicon and is threatened by mining activity.
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Wikipedia