Calothamnus preissii

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

Melaleuca preissiii Craven & R.D.Edwards

Calothamnus preissii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low-lying, sometimes ground-hugging shrub with needle-like leaves and reddish-purple flowers in spring.

Description

Calothamnus preissii is a prostrate shrub growing to a height of about 0.4 metres (1.3 ft) with linear leaves that are circular in cross-section.[1][2]

The flowers are reddish purple and have 4 sepals, 4 petals and 4 claw-like bundles of stamens. The bundles are all narrow but the upper ones are larger and contain 3 to 5 stamens but the lower two have only 1 or 2 stamens. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruits that are woody capsules.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus preissii was first formally described by Johannes Schauer in 1843 in Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno.[3] The specific epithet (preissii) honours the German-born British botanist, Ludwig Preiss.[4] (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca preissii.)[4]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus preissii occurs in and between the Tutanning Nature Reserve near Pingelly, the Cranbrook district and Frankland[1] in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions[2] where it grows in gravelly sand or clay on hillsides.[5]

Conservation

Calothamnus preissii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hawkeswood, Trevor J. (1984). "Nine new species of Calothamnus Labill. (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae) from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 5 (1): 124–125. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Calothamnus preissii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  3. ↑ "Calothamnus preissii". APNI. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (30 June 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 666. doi:10.12705/633.38. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 351. ISBN 0646402439.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.