''Calothamnus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of shrubs 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 spe ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the

south-west The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions— north, east, south, and west—eac ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to ...

. 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 leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...

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 Glabrousness (from the Latin '' glaber'' meaning "bald", "hairless", "shaved", "smooth") is the technical term for a lack of hair, down, setae, trichomes or other such covering. A glabrous surface may be a natural characteristic of all or part o ...

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

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined ...

s 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 Capsule may refer to: Anatomy * Articular capsule (joint capsule), an envelope surrounding a synovial joint * Bowman's capsule (glomerular capsule), a sac surrounding a glomerulus in a mammalian kidney * Glisson's capsule, a fibrous layer covering ...

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 Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or othe ...

''. 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 France ...

biologist

Jacques Labillardière Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière (28 October 1755 – 8 January 1834) was a French biologist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition. He pub ...

in ''

Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen ''Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen'' is a two-volume work describing the flora of Australia. Facsimiles of the originals can be found in the onlinBiodiversity Heritage Library (Vol.1)anVol 2) The author was the French botanist Jacques Labillar ...

, Volume 2''. The name ''Calothamnus'' is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

words ''kalos'' meaning "beautiful" and ''thamnos'' meaning "a shrub" or "a bush". In 2014,

Lyndley Craven Lyndley Alan Craven (3 September 1945 – 11 July 2014) was a botanist who became the Principal Research Scientist of the Australian National Herbarium. Lyndley ("Lyn") Craven worked for the CSIRO plant taxonomy unit of the New Guinea Survey Gr ...

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 and ...

'', '' 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 sulcat ...

'', ''

Petraeomyrtus ''Melaleuca punicea'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the Northern Territory in Australia. Some of the characteristics of this species make it difficult to classify at the genus level. After it was originally descr ...

'', ''

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 ''Regelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The genus is composed of five species of small leaved, evergreen shrubs which have heads of flowers on the ends of branc ...

'' 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 ari ...

'') 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 re ...

'') 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 The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium in Perth, Western Australia. It is part of the State government's Department of Parks and Wildlife, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Aust ...

: *''

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 ...

'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus affinis ''Calothamnus'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic (ecology), endemic to the Southwest Australia, south-west of Western Australia. The common names one-sided bottlebrush or claw flower are given to some species due to ...

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 wh ...

*''

Calothamnus arcuatus ''Calothamnus arcuatus'' is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. (In 2014 Lyndley Craven, Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed ''Mela ...

'' 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. Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vic ...

*''

Calothamnus borealis ''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 o ...

'' 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''

- 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, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. Its distinguishing characteristic is its corky bark in which the hypanthium of the f ...

Benth. George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...

*''

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 ...

*'' Calothamnus glaber'' (

) A.S.George *''

Calothamnus gracilis ''Calothamnus gracilis'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with upright foliage, common in heath within its range. It has long, thin leaves and produces dar ...

'' R.Br. *''

Calothamnus graniticus ''Calothamnus graniticus'', commonly known as granite claw flower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. There are two subspecies, both of which have been classified as "near threaten ...

'' Hawkeswood *''

Calothamnus huegelii ''Calothamnus huegelii'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub growing to a height of about with red flowers in autumn or September. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and ...

'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus lateralis ''Calothamnus'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic (ecology), endemic to the Southwest Australia, south-west of Western Australia. The common names one-sided bottlebrush or claw flower are given to some species due to ...

Lindl. John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley w ...

*''

Calothamnus lehmannii ''Calothamnus lehmannii'', commonly known as dwarf 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 a low-lying, sometimes ground-hugging shrub with ...

'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus longissimus ''Calothamnus longissimus'' 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 unusually long, fine leaves and which produces cluster ...

*''

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 ''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. (In 2014 Cra ...

*''

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, Myrtaceae and is 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 petals and 5 stamen bundles. ...

*''

Calothamnus pachystachyus ''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. (In 2014 Cra ...

*'' Calothamnus phellosus'' 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 immersed ...

- 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, 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. Descripti ...

'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus quadrifidus ''Calothamnus quadrifidus'', commonly known as one-sided bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle Family (biology), family, Myrtaceae and is Endemism, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The common name alludes to the arrangement of th ...

'' R.Br. - One-sided bottlebrush *''

Calothamnus robustus ''Calothamnus robustus'' 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 cylindrical leaves and small clusters of red flowers in spring, fol ...

'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus roseus ''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. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowl ...

'' A.S.George *''

Calothamnus rupestris ''Calothamnus rupestris'', commonly known as mouse ears or granite net-bush, 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 or small tree with short, st ...

'' Schauer - Mouse ears *''

'' Labill. - Silky-leaved blood-flower *'' Calothamnus scabridus'' A.S.George *'' Calothamnus schaueri'' Lehm. *''

Calothamnus superbus ''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 bun ...

'' Hawkeswood & Mollemans *''

Calothamnus torulosus ''Calothamnus torulosus'' is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is sometimes an erect, sometimes prostrate shrub which has pine-like leaves and usually red, 4-part flowers. It is simi ...

'' Schauer *''

Calothamnus tuberosus ''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 ...

'' 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 ''Calothamnus villosus'', commonly known as woolly net-bush or silky net-bush, 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 shrub, often forming thicke ...

'' R.Br.

References

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