Calothamnus gilesii

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Calothamnus gilesii
Calothamnus gilesii in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. gilesii
Binomial name
Calothamnus gilesii
Synonyms

Melaleuca gilesii (F.Muell.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Calothamnus gilesii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, usually compact shrub with fine, pine-like foliage and which produces cluster of red flowers from June to January. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca gilesii.)[2]

Description

[edit | edit source]

Calothamnus gilesii is an erect, or open, spreading shrub growing to a height of about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Its leaves are fine, circular in cross section and up to 120 millimetres (5 in) long tapering to a sharp point.[3][4]

The flowers are bright red and arranged in small groups. The stamens are arranged in 5 claw-like bundles. Flowering occurs in late spring and summer and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules.[3][4]

Calothamnus gilesii growth habit
Calothamnus gilesii fruits

Taxonomy and naming

[edit | edit source]

Calothamnus gilesii was first formally described by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1876 in the tenth volume of Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[1][5] It is not clear whether the specific epithet (gilesii) honours Ernest Giles who conducted major expeditions in central Australia[6] or Ernest Giles's friend, Christopher Giles, both of whom made collections for Mueller.[7] Mueller noted that the collection was made by "Giles and Young".[5]

Distribution and habitat

[edit | edit source]

Calothamnus gilesii is widespread in the drier areas of south-western Western Australia including the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Great Victoria Desert, Mallee, Murchison, Nullarbor Plain and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. It grows on sandplains and stony ridges.[8]

Conservation

[edit | edit source]

This species is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.[8]

Use in horticulture

[edit | edit source]

In cultivation, the species adapts well to harsh, hot situations. It tolerates some dryness and moderate frost.[9]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).