Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus

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Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
Subspecies:
C. q. subsp. quadrifidus
Trinomial name
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus
Synonyms

Melaleuca quadrifida subsp. quadrifida(R.Br.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Contents

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are circular in cross section and the leaves and flower cup (the hypanthium) usually have a sparse covering of long, soft hairs. (The only other subspecies with cylinder-shaped leaves is teretifolius and its leaves and hypanthium are glabrous.)

Description

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus is an erect or sprawling shrub which sometimes grows to a height of 3 metres (10 ft). Its leaves are linear, sometimes slightly expanded in the middle, and circular in cross section. They are 10–35 millimetres (0.4–1 in) long and 0.5–1.0 millimetre (0.02–0.04 in) wide and sparsely covered with long silky hairs, at least when young. [1]

The flowers are red and arranged in clusters, usually on one side of the stem amongst the older leaves. The hypanthium usually has a covering of soft, silky hairs, at least on the lower part and the stamens are arranged in 4 claw-like bundles, each about 22–35 millimetres (0.9–1 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from September to December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, 7–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long. [1]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus was first formally described in 2010 by Alex George in Nuytsia. [1] [2]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus is the most variable subspecies and occurs over the widest area. It is found in the western part of the wheatbelt and as far north as Northampton, as far inland as Mullewa and Hyden and as far south as Albany and Israelite Bay. [1] [3] It grows in sand and soils derived from granite or laterite. [1]

Conservation

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Calothamnus quadrifidus</i> Species of flowering plant

Calothamnus quadrifidus, commonly known as one-sided bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The common name alludes to the arrangement of the flowers in the inflorescence which line up on one side of the stem. It is a shrub with grey-green, pine-like foliage covered with soft hairs and red, four-part flowers in spring. Widely cultivated because of its attractive foliage, colourful, unusual and prolific flowers, it grows in a variety of habitats and soils. In 2010, Alex George published a review of the species based on recent research and described a number of new subspecies.

<i>Calothamnus sanguineus</i> Species of flowering plant

Calothamnus sanguineus, commonly known as silky-leaved blood flower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The Noongar peoples know the plant as Boolgalla. It is an erect to spreading shrub with short, cylindrical leaves and red or white flowers with an unusual arrangement of stamens, often flowering in autumn, winter or spring. It was the first of its genus to be formally described.

<i>Calothamnus graniticus</i> Species of flowering plant

Calothamnus graniticus, commonly known as granite claw flower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are two subspecies, both of which have been classified as "near threatened". It is an erect, rounded shrub with pine-like, dark, grey-green foliage and usually bright red flowers. Calothamnus graniticus subsp. graniticus occurs in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is the floral emblem of the nearby city of Busselton.

<i>Calothamnus villosus</i> Species of flowering plant

Calothamnus villosus, commonly known as woolly net-bush or silky net-bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tall shrub, often forming thickets. It has thin, cylindrical leaves and blood red flowers for many months of the year. It is superficially similar to Calothamnus quadrifidus but can be distinguished from that species by its flowers which have five stamen claws compared to the four of C. quadrifidus.

<i>Melaleuca incana <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> tenella</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Melaleuca incana subsp. tenella is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It was formerly known as Melaleuca tenella Benth. but was reduced to a subspecies in 1998. It is similar to M. incana subsp. incana except in the form of the plant, the size and shape of its leaves, its flowering time and distribution.

Calothamnus arcuatus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with prickly, cylindrical leaves with a slight, upward curve and bright red flowers in small groups near the older leaves.

Calothamnus formosus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a large, spreading, densely foliaged shrub with almost cylindrical, pointed leaves and red flowers in spring or summer. There are two subspecies, differing mainly in the length of their leaves.

Calothamnus glaber is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub, similar to Calothamnus blepharospermus but its leaves are slightly longer and narrower and the parts of its flowers are glabrous.

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. angustifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that it has longer leaves than most although in some areas there are plants that are intermediate with Calothamnus quadrifolius subsp. obtusus. The leaves are flat, narrow and prickly.

<i>Calothamnus quadrifidus <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> asper</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. asper is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are short, flat and obviously rough and scaly when mature.

<i>Calothamnus quadrifidus <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> homalophyllus</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are longer and wider.

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. obtusus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are linear and somewhat rough and scaly and the stamen bundles are relatively short.

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. petraeus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are linear and somewhat rough and scaly and the stamen bundles are relatively long.

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are linear and somewhat rough and scaly and the stamen bundles are relatively long.

Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. teretifolius is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to other subspecies of Calothamnus quadrifidus except that its leaves are glabrous and cylindrical.

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.

Calothamnus scabridus 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 red flowers with four stamen bundles.

<i>Eremaea <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> codonocarpa</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremaea × codonocarpa is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is thought to be a stabilised hybrid between two subspecies of Eremaea. It is a small shrub with triangular leaves and flowers a shade of pink to purple on the ends of the branches.

Eremaea × phoenicea is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is thought to be a stabilised hybrid between two subspecies of Eremaea. It is an erect to spreading shrub with pointed, elliptic leaves and small groups of flowers, a shade of pink to red, on the ends of the branches.

<i>Verticordia tumida</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia tumida, commonly known as summer featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is an open shrub with very small leaves and clusters of deep pink flowers from late spring to early winter.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 George, Alex S.; Gibson, Neil (2010). "A revision of Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Nuytsia. 20: 62–66. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  2. "Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus". APNI. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus". FloraBase. Retrieved 3 August 2015.