Calothamnus preissii

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.

Calothamnus preissii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. preissii
Binomial name
Calothamnus preissii
Synonyms[1]
  • Calothamnus laxa Kunze orth. var.
  • Calothamnus laxus Kunze
  • Melaleuca preissii (Schauer) Craven & R.D.Edwards

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. 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.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus preissii was first formally described by Johannes Schauer in 1843 in Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno.[4] The specific epithet (preissii) honours the German-born British botanist, Ludwig Preiss.[5]

In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca preissii but the name is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus preissii occurs in and between the Tutanning Nature Reserve near Pingelly, the Cranbrook district and Frankland[2] in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions[3] where it grows in gravelly sand or clay on hillsides.[6]

Conservation

Calothamnus preissii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]

References
  1. "Calothamnus preissii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. 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.
  3. "Calothamnus preissii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. "Calothamnus preissii". APNI. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  5. 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.
  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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