Calothamnus phellosus

Calothamnus phellosus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tall, spreading shrub with needle-shaped, prickly leaves and bright red flowers with five stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca phellosa.)^[1]

Description

Calothamnus phellosus is a shrub growing to a height of about 4 metres (10 ft) and a width of about 6 metres (20 ft). Its leaves are needle-like, mostly 25–80 millimetres (1–3 in) long and 0.7–1.1 millimetres (0.03–0.04 in) wide, circular in cross section and tapering to a sharp, prickly point.^[2]

The flowers have 5 sepals and 5 petals. The stamens are bright red and are arranged in 5 claw-like bundles, each about 22–40 millimetres (0.87–1.6 in) long. The petals are 4.0–4.5 millimetres (0.16–0.18 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to November and is followed by fruits which are woody, flattened spherical capsules, 7–11 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long, often tightly packed together and which develop a corky bark.^[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus phellosus was first formally described in 2010 by Alex George in Nuytsia from a specimen found in the north of the Murchison River near Eurardy.^[2][3] The specific epithet (phellosus) is an Ancient Greek word meaning "corky" referring to the outer surface of the fruit of this species.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus phellosus occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions ^[4]

Conservation

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

References