Calothamnus oldfieldii

Calothamnus oldfieldii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with needle-shaped leaves and clusters of red flowers with 5 petals and 5 stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii.)[2]

Calothamnus oldfieldii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. oldfieldii
Binomial name
Calothamnus oldfieldii
Synonyms

Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Calothamnus oldfieldii is a small shrub growing to a height of about 1.5 metres (5 ft). Its leaves are 25–50 millimetres (1–2 in) long and nearly circular in cross section and taper to a pointed end.[3][4]

The flowers are bright red and arranged in small groups and the stamens are arranged in 5 claw-like bundles. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules about 5 millimetres (0.2 in) long.[3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus oldfieldii was first formally described by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1862 in Volume 3, Part 21 of Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[1][5] The specific epithet (oldfieldii) honours Augustus Frederick Oldfield, an English botanist and plant collector.

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus oldfieldii occurs in the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions[4] where it grows in sandy kwongan.[3][6]

Conservation

Calothamnus oldfieldii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.[4]

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References
  1. "Calothamnus oldfieldii". APNI. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  2. Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (31 July 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 665. doi:10.12705/633.38.
  3. Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Publishing P/L. p. 115. ISBN 9781877058844. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. "Calothamnus oldfieldii". FloraBase. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1862). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (Volume 3). Melbourne. p. 31. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 351. ISBN 0646402439.
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