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.
Description
Calothamnus 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
Calothamnus 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
Calothamnus 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
Calothamnus preissii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]
References
