Calothamnus tuberosus

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Calothamnus tuberosus
Calothamnus tuberosus flowers (ANBG).jpg
Calothamnus tuberosus in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. tuberosus
Binomial name
Calothamnus tuberosus
Synonyms

Melaleuca tuberosa (Hawkeswood) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Contents

Calothamnus tuberosus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a stiff, prickly plant with cylindrical leaves and red flowers, growing near or often on granite boulders. It has a lignotuber and tuberous roots. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca tuberosa.) [1]

Description

Calothamnus tuberosus is a compact, highly branched shrub growing to a height of about 2.5 metres (8 ft) or more. Its leaves are crowded at the ends of the branches and are 50–80 millimetres (2–3 in) long, 1.0–2.5 millimetres (0.04–0.1 in) in diameter, stiff, cylindrical in shape and taper to a prickly point. [2] [3]

The flowers are rich red and in small dense spikes amongst the leaves or on the older, leafless branches . The 4 petals are 3–4 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long, thin, papery and orange to brown. The stamens are arranged in 4 claw-like bundles, all 22–28 millimetres (0.9–1 in)usually with 12 to 16 stamens per bundle. Flowering occurs from November to January, although sometimes in other months, depending on weather conditions. Flowering is followed by fruits which are woody, almost spherical capsules, 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter. [2] [3]

C. tuberosus habit (labelled) in the ANBG Calothamnus tuberosus habit (ANBG).jpg
C. tuberosus habit (labelled) in the ANBG
C. tuberosus foliage and fruit Calothamnus tuberosus foliage and fruit.jpg
C. tuberosus foliage and fruit

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus tuberosus was first formally described in 1984 by Trevor Hawkeswood in the botanical journal Nuytsia. [2] [4] The specific epithet (tuberosus) is a Latin word meaning "full of lumps". [5]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus tuberosus occurs on or close to rocky granite outcrops from the Barbalin area to Peak Charles [2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. [6] [7]

Conservation

Calothamnus tuberosus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Related Research Articles

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Calothamnus chrysanthereus , commonly known as claw flower is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with needle-shaped leaves crowded on the ends of the branches and bright red flowers in spring.

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

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

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

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Calothamnus accedens, commonly known as Piawaning clawflower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was first formally described in 1984, declared extinct in 1992, rediscovered in 2004, removed from the "extinct" list in 2013 and found to have a population of at least 25,000 in 2015. It is a small erect shrub with crowded hairy leaves and red flowers. In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca accedens.

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

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

Calothamnus aridus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to central parts of Western Australia. It is an erect, densely branched shrub with many stems, needle-like leaves and orange-red to pinkish flowers, growing in arid areas with spinifex.

Calothamnus borealis is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with crowded, cylindrical leaves and red flowers. It grows in sand surrounded by spinifex or heath. In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca aquilonia.

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.

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

Calothamnus gibbosus, commonly known as corky net-bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its distinguishing characteristic is its corky bark in which the hypanthium of the flowers and much of the fruits is buried. Only the petals and stamens emerge from the bark.

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

Calothamnus hirsutus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with prominent hairs on the leaves giving them a smoky appearance. The flowers are deep red and are usually in dense clusters between the older leaves.

Calothamnus lehmannii, commonly known as dwarf claw flower, 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 long, thin, cylindrical leaves and clusters of red flowers that are smaller than any others in the genus Calothamnus.

Calothamnus macrocarpus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with bright red flowers in spring and large, almost spherical fruit. It has a limited distribution near Hopetoun.

Calothamnus microcarpus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, either compact or spreading shrub with flat leaves and clusters of red flowers in spring.

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

Calothamnus pachystachyus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, much-branched shrub with thick bark, flat leaves and clusters of red flowers in spring.

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

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 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.

Calothamnus schaueri is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading, sometimes prostrate shrub, growing to a height of about 0.6 metres (2 ft) with cylindrical leaves 100–200 millimetres (4–8 in) long. It has brownish red flowers from August to December. The flowers have 4 petals and 4 narrow bundles of stamens.

Calothamnus superbus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, often spreading, straggly shrub similar to Calothamnus aridus with its red flowers having 5 stamen bundles, but its leaves are longer and wider. It has a limited distribution near Pigeon Rocks south of Lake Barlee.

References

  1. 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 .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hawkeswood, Trevor J. (1984). "Nine new species of Calothamnus Labill. (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae) from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 5 (1): 133–135. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 Archer, William. "Calothamnus tuberosus". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. "Calothamnus tuberosus". APNI. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 774.
  6. 1 2 "Calothamnus tuberosus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 352. ISBN   0646402439.