Calothamnus chrysanthereus
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Calothamnus chrysanthereus (leaves, flowers).JPG
|image_caption = Calothamnus chrysanthereus growing on Red Bluff near Kalbarri
|genus = Calothamnus
|species = chrysanthereus
|authority = F.Muell.
}}
Calothamnus chrysanthereus , commonly known as claw flower is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with needle-shaped leaves crowded on the ends of the branches and bright red flowers in spring. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca chrysantherea.){{cite journal|last1=Craven|first1=Lyn A.|last2=Edwards|first2=Robert D.|last3=Cowley|first3=Kirsten J.|title=New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)|journal=Taxon|date=30 June 2014|volume=63|issue=3|page=665|doi=10.12705/633.38|doi-access=free}}
Description
Calothamnus chrysanthereus is an erect, dense or spreading shrub which grows to a height of about {{convert|1.5|m|ft|sigfig=1}} with corky bark on the older branches. Its leaves are crowded near the ends of the branches, needle-like, mostly {{convert|50-90|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long and {{convert|1.0-1.4|mm|in|sigfig=1}} wide, circular in cross section and tapering at the end to a sharp point.{{cite web|last1=Hawkeswood|first1=Trevor J.|title=Studies in the genus Calothamnus (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae): Redescription of Calothamnus chrysantherus F. Muell., with notes on distribution, habitat and conservation and a list of collection records|url=http://www.calodema.com/freefiles/323.pdf|publisher=Trevor J. Hawkeswood|accessdate=31 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180711/http://www.calodema.com/freefiles/323.pdf#|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|last1=von Mueller|first1=Ferdinand|title=Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae|date=1862|location=Melbourne|pages=112–113|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/7220#page/119/mode/1up|accessdate=31 July 2015}}
The flowers are arranged in clusters or loose spikes of up to 10, mostly on the older leafless stems. The five petals are {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long and papery. The stamens are bright red and arranged in 5 claw-like bundles with 24 to 28 stamens per bundle. Flowering occurs from August to December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, {{convert|12-15|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long.
Taxonomy and naming
Claw flower was first formally described in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.{{cite web|title=Calothamnus chrysanthereus|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/527016|publisher=APNI|accessdate=31 July 2015}} In 1867, George Bentham made a complete description, giving the name Calothamnus chrysantherus.{{cite book|last1=Bentham|first1=George|last2=von Mueller|first2=Ferdinand|title=Flora Australiensis (Volume 3)|date=1867|publisher=Lovell, Reeve and Co.|location=London|page=176|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/41807#page/184/mode/1up|accessdate=31 July 2015}} In 2010, Alex George restored the name Calothamnus chrysanthereus .{{cite journal|last1=George|first1=Alex S.|title=alothamnus (Myrtaceae): precursor paper to Flora of Australia|journal=Nuytsia|date=2010|volume=20|page=188|doi=10.58828/nuy00588 |s2cid=88190505 |url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/science/nuytsia/588.pdf|accessdate=31 July 2015}}
Distribution and habitat
This calothamnus is common in the heathlands north of Geraldton in the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.{{FloraBase|name=Calothamnus chrysanthereus |id=34196 }} It grows in sandy soil in a range of situations.{{cite book|last1=Paczkowska|first1=Grazyna|last2=Chapman|first2=Alex R.|title=The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue|date=2000|publisher=Wildflower Society of Western Australia|location=Perth|isbn=0646402439|page=350}}
Conservation
Calothamnus chrysanthereus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5023870}}
Category:Myrtales of Australia
Category:Plants described in 1862