Calytrix tetragona

Calytrix tetragona is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to {{cvt|3|m}}. Its leaves are linear, oblong, egg-shaped, or lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic, {{cvt|0.75–14|mm}} long, {{cvt|0.4–1.5|mm}} wide, the base abruptly narrowing to a petiole {{cvt|0.2–1.5|mm}} long. The flowers are usually borne in dense clusters on a narrowly funnel-shaped peduncle {{cvt|1.0–1.5|mm}} long with elliptic, egg-shaped or more or less round bracteoles {{cvt|2.5–4.75|mm}} long. The floral tube is {{cvt|7–15|mm}} long with ten ribbs, and partly fused to the style. The sepals are joined up to {{cvt|0.4|mm}} at the base, the lobes egg-shaped, elliptic or egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, {{cvt|0.75–2.5|mm}} long and {{cvt|1.0–2.75|mm}} wide with an awn up to {{cvt|17|mm}} long. The petals are white to pink, elliptic to lance-shaped, {{cvt|3.5–7.5|mm}} long and {{cvt|1.25–3.0|mm}} wide with about 23 to 45 stamens {{cvt|1.6–5|mm}} long in a single row. Flowering occurs n most months with a peak from August to October.{{cite journal |last1=Craven |first1=Lyndley |title=A taxonomic revision of Calytrix Labill. (Myrtaceae). |journal=Brunonia |date=1987 |pages=30–33}}{{FloraBase|name=Calytrix tetragona|id=5483}}{{cite web |last1=Jeanes |first1=Jeff A. |title=Calytrix tetragona |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/3ad12e58-5f81-4c7c-a291-e7e10b7eb92c |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=27 February 2025}}

Calytrix tetragona was first formally described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.{{cite web |title=Calytrix tetragona |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/533087 |publisher=Australian Plant Name Index |access-date=24 February 2025}}{{cite journal |last1=Turczaninow |first1=Nikolai |title=Decas sexta generum plantarum hucusque non descriptorum adjectis descriptionibus specierum nonnullarum. |journal=Bulletin de la Société impériale des naturalistes de Moscou |date=1849 |volume=22 |issue=3 |page=20 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/192493#page/26/mode/1up |access-date=24 February 2025}}{{cite book |last1=Labillardière |first1=Jacques |title=Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen |date=1806 |volume=2 |location=Paris |pages=8–9 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/127076#page/8/mode/1up |access-date=27 February 2025}} The specific epithet (tetragona) means 'four-angled',referring to the decussate leaves.{{cite book |last1=George |first1=Alex |last2=Sharr |first2=Francis |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2021 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=323 |edition=3rd}}

Common fringe-myrtle occurs in each state of Australia and in the Australian Capital Territory. It grows on sandplains, sand dunes, and on granite outcrops in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Nullarbor, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions is found from near Bunbury to near Albany where grows on stunted jarrah and Banksia forest in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia. In South Australia it is common in a wide range of habitats including heath, mallee and open forest in the southern part of the state.{{cite web |title=Calytrix tetragona (Myrtaceae) Common Fringe-myrtle |url=https://spapps.environment.sa.gov.au/SeedsOfSA/speciesinformation.html?rid=949 |publisher=Seeds of South Australia |access-date=27 February 2025}} The species is widespread in Victoria, especially in sandy and gravelly soils and on rock platforms. It is the only species of Calytrix in Tasmania, and is a common coastal shrub.{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Greg |title=Calytrix tetragona |url=https://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/MYRTS/gCalytrix.htm |publisher=University of Tasmania |access-date=27 February 2025}} In New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, the species grows in heath, woodland and forest.{{cite web |title=Species profile—Calytrix tetragona (fringe myrtle) |url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=17766 |publisher=Queensland Government Department of Education and Science |access-date=27 February 2025}}

This species of Calytrix is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and of "least concern" by the Government of Queensland.

Common fringe-myrtle grows best in a sunny or lightly shaded situations in well-drained, lime-free. Some deep pink forms from near Keith appear to have potential as a garden subject.{{cite web |title=Calytrix tetragona |url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp2/calytrix-tetragona.html |publisher=Australian National Botanic Gardens |access-date=27 February 2025}}

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tetragona

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Flora of Queensland

Category:Flora of Tasmania

Category:Flora of South Australia

Category:Flora of Victoria (state)

Category:Flora of the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Myrtales of Australia

Category:Rosids of Western Australia

Category:Taxa named by Jacques Labillardière

Category:Garden plants of Australia