''Callistemon kenmorrisonii'', the Betka bottlebrush, is a
shrub
A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
in the family
Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae (), the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pÅhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All ...
. It is endemic to the state of
Victoria in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
.
Description
Betka bottlebrush is an upright or angular spreading shrub which grows to between 1 and 3 metres in height and 1 to 4 metres in width.
It has grey bark which reveals white underneath after peeling.
[ Its new growth is initially pink, becoming blue-green and eventually green with a non-glossy sheen.][ The stiff leaves are irregularly aligned as a result of twisted petioles. The crimson inflorescences appear predominantly between November and February in the species' native range.][ These are followed by squat, woody fruits which become partially embedded into the stem.][
]
Distribution
This species occurs in riparian scrub in an area of State forest on the upper Betka River
The Betka River is a perennial river with no defined major catchment, located in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.
Course and features
The Betka River rises south of in the Croajingolong National Park, just east o ...
near Genoa
Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
in East Gippsland
East Gippsland is the eastern region of Gippsland, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia covering (14%) of Victoria (Australia), Victoria. It has a population of 80,114.
Australian Bureau of Statistics2006 Census Community Profile Series: Ea ...
.[ There are two colonies with a total population of 90 to 130 plants.][
]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described in '' Muelleria'' in 1995 by Bill Molyneux.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5022780
kenmorrisonii
Flora of Victoria (state)
Vulnerable flora of Australia