Calothamnus oldfieldii | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Calothamnus |
Species: | C. oldfieldii
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Binomial name | |
Calothamnus oldfieldii | |
Synonyms | |
Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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 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]
Calothamnus oldfieldii was first formally described in 1862 Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected near the Murchison River by Augustus Oldfield. [1] [5] The specific epithet (oldfieldii) honours the collector of the type specimens. [5]
Calothamnus oldfieldii occurs in the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions [4] where it grows in sandy kwongan. [3] [6]
Calothamnus oldfieldii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife. [4]