''Calothamnus'' is a genus of

shrub A shrub (often also called a 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 ...

s in the family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

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

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are small and fall off the flower soon after it opens but the stamens are long, numerous and usually bright red.

Description

Plants in the genus ''Calothamnus'' are medium to tall shrubs, sometimes low-growing ground covers. The leaves are linear or narrow lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, usually glabrous and have distinct oil glands. The flowers are in small groups or dense spikes on leafless, older stems or between the leaves on younger ones. The sepals are fused to form a bell-shaped cup which is often immersed in the branch and there are four or five

s which usually fall off after the flower has opened. There are many stamens, joined for a large proportion of their length into four or five "claws". In some species the upper two claws are fused together and the lower ones are shorter. The stamens are brightly coloured, crimson to a deep purple or rarely yellow. The fruit is a woody capsule. Calothamnus graniticus subsp

Taxonomy and naming

The first species in the genus to be described was ''

Calothamnus sanguineus ''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 spreadi ...

''. It was first formally described in 1806 by the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

biologist Jacques Labillardière in '' Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen, Volume 2''. The name ''Calothamnus'' is derived from the Greek words ''kalos'' meaning "beautiful" and ''thamnos'' meaning "a shrub" or "a bush". In 2014, Lyndley Craven and others proposed, mainly on the basis of DNA evidence, that species in the genus ''Calothamnus'', along with those in '' Beaufortia'', ''

Conothamnus ''Conothamnus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. They are woody shrubs similar to melaleucas but differ in that their leaves are usually arranged in opposite pairs ...

'', '' Eremaea'', ''

Lamarchea ''Lamarchea'' is a genus of shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1830. The entire genus is endemic to Australia. ;Species # '' Lamarchea hakeifolia'' Gaudich. - Shire of Irwin in Western Australia # '' Lamarchea sulcata' ...

'', '' Petraeomyrtus'', ''

Phymatocarpus ''Phymatocarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. All three species are shrubs with pink to purple flowers. Description Plants in the genus ''Phymatocarpus'' are shrub ...

'' and '' Regelia'' be transferred to ''

Melaleuca ''Melaleuca'' () is a genus of nearly 300 species of plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, commonly known as paperbarks, honey-myrtles or tea-trees (although the last name is also applied to species of '' Leptospermum''). They range in size ...

''.

Distribution and habitat

All ''Calothamnus'' species are found in the

south west botanical province Southwest Australia is a biogeographic region in Western Australia. It includes the Mediterranean-climate area of southwestern Australia, which is home to a diverse and distinctive flora and fauna. The region is also known as the Southwest Aus ...

of Western Australia. Some (such as ''

Calothamnus aridus ''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 ...

'') are adapted to a dry environment whilst others (such as ''

Calothamnus hirsutus ''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 ...

'') are often found near swamps.

Use in horticulture

Most species of ''Calothamnus'' have been grown in gardens but need full sun and good drainage. Propagation is usually from seeds which are retained in the hard fruits throughout the life of the plant but cuttings can be used to retain the colour of yellow forms.

Species list

The following is a list of species recognised by the Western Australian Herbarium: *''

Calothamnus accedens ''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 i ...

'' Hawkeswood *'' Calothamnus affinis''

Turcz. Nikolai Stepanovich Turczaninow ( ru , Николай Степанович Турчанинов, 1796 in Nikitovka, now in Krasnogvardeysky District, Belgorod Oblast, Russia – 1863 in Kharkov) was a Russian botanist and plant collector who ...

*''

Calothamnus arcuatus ''Calothamnus arcuatus'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed ''Melaleuca arcuata''.) It is a shrub with prickl ...

'' A.S.George *''

'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus blepharospermus ''Calothamnus blepharospermus'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the west coast of Western Australia. It is an upright, spreading, bushy shrub with red flowers in summer. It grows in sandy soil in scrubby country ca ...

'' F.Muell. *'' Calothamnus borealis'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus brevifolius ''Calothamnus brevifolius'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, highly branched shrub with almost cylindrical, pointed leaves and red flowers in summer. In 2014 Crave ...

'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus chrysanthereus ''Calothamnus chrysanthereus '', commonly known as claw flower is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with needle-shaped leaves crowded on ...

'' F.Muell. - Claw flower *''

Calothamnus cupularis ''Calothamnus cupularis'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed ''Melaleuca arcuata''.) It is a similar shrub to ...

'' A.S.George *''

Calothamnus formosus ''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 summe ...

'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus gibbosus ''Calothamnus gibbosus'', commonly known as corky net-bush, is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its distinguishing characteristic is its corky bark in which ...

'' Benth. *''

Calothamnus gilesii ''Calothamnus gilesii'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, usually compact shrub with fine, pine-like foliage and which produces cluster of red flowers from June to ...

'' F.Muell. *'' Calothamnus glaber'' ( Benth.) A.S.George *'' Calothamnus gracilis'' R.Br. *''

Calothamnus graniticus ''Calothamnus graniticus'', commonly known as granite claw flower, is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are two subspecies, both of which have been cla ...

'' Hawkeswood *''

'' Hawkeswood *'' Calothamnus huegelii'' Schauer *'' Calothamnus lateralis'' Lindl. *'' Calothamnus lehmannii'' Schauer *'' Calothamnus longissimus'' F.Muell. *''

Calothamnus macrocarpus ''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 ...

Hawkeswood *'' Calothamnus microcarpus'' F.Muell. *''

Calothamnus montanus ''Calothamnus montanus'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with short, needle-shaped leaves and red flowers with four stamen bundles ...

'' A.S.George *''

Calothamnus oldfieldii ''Calothamnus oldfieldii'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with needle-shaped leaves and clusters of red flowers with 5 p ...

'' F.Muell. *'' Calothamnus pachystachyus'' Benth. *''

Calothamnus phellosus ''Calothamnus phellosus'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tall, spreading shrub with needle-shaped, prickly leaves and bright red flowers with f ...

'' A.S.George *''

Calothamnus pinifolius ''Calothamnus pinifolius'', commonly known as dense clawflower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with dense foliage and clusters of red flowers, partly immerse ...

'' F.Muell. - Dense claw-flower *''

Calothamnus planifolius ''Calothamnus planifolius'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, growing to a height of about with flat leaves and red flowers from September ...

'' Lehm. *''

Calothamnus preissii ''Calothamnus preissii'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low-lying, sometimes ground-hugging shrub with needle-like leaves and reddish-purple f ...

'' Schauer *'' Calothamnus quadrifidus'' R.Br. - One-sided bottlebrush *'' Calothamnus robustus'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus roseus ''Calothamnus roseus'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with needle-shaped, prickly leaves and pink flowers with four stamen bundles. (In 2 ...

'' A.S.George *'' Calothamnus rupestris'' Schauer - Mouse ears *''

'' Labill. - Silky-leaved blood-flower *'' Calothamnus scabridus'' A.S.George *'' Calothamnus schaueri'' Lehm. *'' Calothamnus superbus'' Hawkeswood & Mollemans *'' Calothamnus torulosus'' Schauer *'' Calothamnus tuberosus'' Hawkeswood *'' Calothamnus validus''

S.Moore Spencer Le Marchant Moore (1 November 1850 – 14 March 1931) was an English botanist. Biography Moore was born in Hampstead. He worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from about 1870 to 1879, wrote a number of botanical papers, and then wo ...

- Barrens claw-flower *'' Calothamnus villosus'' R.Br.

References

{{- Myrtaceae genera Myrtales of Australia Rosids of Western Australia Taxa named by Jacques Labillardière Endemic flora of Southwest Australia