Calothamnus roseus

Calothamnus roseus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with needle-shaped, prickly leaves and pink flowers with four stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca rosea.)[1]

Calothamnus roseus

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. roseus
Binomial name
Calothamnus roseus
Synonyms

Melaleuca rosea (A.S.George) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Calothamnus roseus is a shrub growing to a height of about 2.5 metres (8 ft). Its leaves are needle-like, mostly 25–45 millimetres (1–2 in) long and 0.5–0.7 millimetres (0.02–0.03 in) wide, circular in cross section and tapering to a sharp, prickly point.[2]

The flowers have 4 sepals and 4 petals. The flower cup (the hypanthium) and the sepals are hairy. The stamens are deep pink and are arranged in 4 claw-like bundles, each about 28–33 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in) long. The petals are 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to November and is followed by fruits which are smooth, woody capsules, 13–16 millimetres (0.5–0.6 in) long.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus roseus was first formally described in 2010 by Alex George in Nuytsia from a specimen found near Ravensthorpe.[2][3] The Latin roseus (rose-pink) refers to the colour of the stamens.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus roseus occurs near Ravensthorpe in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region,[4] where it grows in rocky soil derived from quartzite.[2]

Conservation

Calothamnus roseus is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife,[4] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[5]

References

  1. Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (30 June 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 667. doi:10.12705/633.38.
  2. George, Alex S. (2010). "Calothamnus (Myrtaceae): precursor paper to Flora of Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 20: 195–196. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  3. "Calothamnus roseus". APNI. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  4. "Calothamnus roseus". FloraBase. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  5. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
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