Calothamnus preissii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low-lying, sometimes ground-hugging shrub with needle-like leaves and reddish-purple flowers in spring.
| Calothamnus preissii | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Calothamnus |
| Species: | C. preissii
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| Binomial name | |
| Calothamnus preissii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editCalothamnus preissii is a prostrate shrub growing to a height of about 0.4 metres (1.3 ft) with linear leaves that are circular in cross-section. The flowers are reddish purple and have 4 sepals, 4 petals and 4 claw-like bundles of stamens. The bundles are all narrow but the upper ones are larger and contain 3 to 5 stamens but the lower two have only 1 or 2 stamens. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruits that are woody capsules.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editCalothamnus preissii was first formally described by Johannes Schauer in 1843 in Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno.[4] The specific epithet (preissii) honours the German-born British botanist, Ludwig Preiss.[5]
In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca preissii but the name is not accepted by the Australian Plant Census.[5]
Distribution and habitat
editCalothamnus preissii occurs in and between the Tutanning Nature Reserve near Pingelly, the Cranbrook district and Frankland[2] in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions[3] where it grows in gravelly sand or clay on hillsides.[6]
Conservation
editCalothamnus preissii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Calothamnus preissii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ a b Hawkeswood, Trevor J. (1984). "Nine new species of Calothamnus Labill. (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae) from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 5 (1): 124–125. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b c "Calothamnus preissii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Calothamnus preissii". APNI. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (30 June 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 666. doi:10.12705/633.38.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 351. ISBN 0646402439.