Kingdom Plantae Family Myrtaceae Rank Species | Order Myrtales Genus Calothamnus | |
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.)
Contents
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.
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.
Taxonomy and naming
Calothamnus roseus was first formally described in 2010 by Alex George in Nuytsia from a specimen found near Ravensthorpe. The specific epithet (roseus) is an Latin word meaning "pink" in reference to the colour of the flowers.
Distribution and habitat
Calothamnus roseus occurs near Ravensthorpe in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region where it grows in rocky soil derived from quartzite.
Conservation
Calothamnus roseus is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.