Melaleuca chrysantherea

Description

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. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca chrysantherea). Calothamnus chrysanthereus is an erect, dense or spreading shrub which grows to a height of about 1.5 metres (5 ft) with corky bark on the older branches. Its leaves are crowded near the ends of the branches, needle-like, mostly 50-90 millimetres (2-4 in) long and 1.0-1.4 millimetres (0.04-0.06 in) wide, circular in cross section and tapering at the end to a sharp point. The flowers are arranged in clusters or loose spikes of up to 10, mostly on the older leafless stems. The five petals are 3-5 millimetres (0.1-0.2 in) long and papery. The stamens are bright red and arranged in 5 claw-like bundles with 24 to 28 stamens per bundle. Flowering occurs from August to December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, 12-15 millimetres (0.5-0.6 in) long. Claw flower was first formally described in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. In 1867, George Bentham made a complete description, giving the name Calothamnus chrysantherus. In 2010, Alex George restored the name Calothamnus chrysanthereus. This calothamnus is common in the heathlands north of Geraldton in the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. It grows in sandy soil in a range of situations. Calothamnus chrysanthereus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife. Calothamnus is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The common names one-sided bottlebrush or claw flower are given to some species due to their having the flowers clustered on one side of the stem or because of the claw-like appearance of their flowers. Calothamnus species are generally medium to tall woody shrubs with crowded leaves. In most species the leaves are crowded and linear in shape, and the flowers are usually arranged in dense clusters. The petals are small and fall off the flower soon after it opens but the stamens are long, numerous and usually bright red.