Kingdom Plantae Family Myrtaceae Rank Species | Order Myrtales Genus Calothamnus | |
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Calothamnus montanus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with short, needle-shaped leaves and red flowers with four stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca georgi.)
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Description
Calothamnus montanus is a shrub growing to a height of about 2 metres (7 ft) with stems that are hairy at first but become glabrous and thick over time. Its leaves are needle-like, mostly 3.5–11 millimetres (0.1–0.4 in) long and 0.8–1.0 millimetre (0.03–0.04 in) wide and circular in cross section.
The flowers have 4 sepals and 4 petals. The stamens are partly red, partly green and are arranged in 4 claw-like bundles, each about 25–28 millimetres (0.98–1.1 in) long. The petals are 2.5–3 millimetres (0.098–0.12 in) long. Flowering occurs from October to January and is followed by fruits which are woody, flattened spherical capsules, 3–5 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long and partly buried in the stem.
Taxonomy and naming
Calothamnus montanus was first formally described in 2010 by Alex George from a specimen found in the Stirling Range National Park. The specific epithet (montanus) is a Latin word meaning "pertaining to mountains" in reference to the habitat of this species.
Distribution and habitat
Calothamnus montanus occurs in the Stirling Range National Park in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region where it grows in soil derived from metamorphic rocks.
Conservation
Calothamnus montanus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.