''Calytrix fraseri'', commonly known as pink summer calytrix or pink summer starflower, is a species of plant in the myrtle 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 ...

that is endemic to Western Australia.

Description

The perennial shrub typically grows to a height of and can reach as high as and with a width of . It usually blooms between November and August producing pink-purple-yellow star-shaped flowers which gave contrasting stamens. The foliage is evergreen with on open or dense habit. It can be grown from seed, softwood cutting or semi-hardwood cutting. It is grown in garden beds in pots suitable for cut flowers and attracts bees and other insects. The plant will tolerate light

frost Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere coming in contact with a solid surface whose temperature is below freezing, and resulting in a phase change from water vapor (a gas) ...

and is drought resistant.

Distribution

Found on sand-plains, sand dunes and among granite outcrops in a small area along the west coast in the

Mid West The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

, Wheatbelt and

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—each sepa ...

regions of Western Australia where it grows on sandy soils. It is found as far north as Kalbarri and as far east as

Lake Grace A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...

Classification

The species was first formally described by the

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

Allan Cunningham in 1834 in the journal ''Botanical Magazine''. The plant is named in honour of Charles Fraser, first superintendent of the Sydney botanical gardens and colonial botanist.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15396580 fraseri Endemic flora of Western Australia Myrtales of Australia Rosids of Western Australia Plants described in 1834 Taxa named by Allan Cunningham (botanist)