''Chamelaucium'', also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs
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
south western 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 ...
. They belong to 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 spe ...
and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees (''
Leptospermum
''Leptospermum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of ''Melaleuca''. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the great ...
''). The most well-known species is the Geraldton wax, ''
Chamelaucium uncinatum'', which is cultivated widely for its large attractive flowers.
Description
Plants of the genus ''Chamelaucium'' are woody evergreen shrubs ranging from 15 cm (6 in) to 3 m (10 ft) high. The leaves are tiny to medium-sized and arranged oppositely on the stems. They contain oil glands and are aromatic,
[ often giving off a pleasant aroma when crushed. The flowers are small and have five petals, ten stamens, and are followed by small hardened fruit.]
Taxonomy
The genus was first defined by French botanist René Louiche Desfontaines
René Louiche Desfontaines (14 February 1750 – 16 November 1833) was a French botanist.
Desfontaines was born near Tremblay in Brittany. He attended the Collège de Rennes and in 1773 went to Paris to study medicine. His interest in bota ...
in 1819. The derivation of the name is unclear. They are commonly known as waxplants,[ Fourteen species are currently recognised within the genus. It gives its name to a number of closely related genera, collectively known as the Chamelaucium alliance within the family Myrtaceae; larger members include '']Verticordia
:For the clam genus, see ''Verticordia'' (bivalve).
''Verticordia'' is a genus of more than 100 species of plants commonly known as featherflowers, in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They range in form from very small shrubs such as '' V. verti ...
'', ''Calytrix
''Calytrix'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1806. They are commonly known as starflowers. ''Calytrix'' are endemic to Australia, occurring in the (Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and W ...
'', '' Darwinia'', ''Micromyrtus
''Micromyrtus'' is a genus of shrubs, in the family Myrtaceae, described as a genus in 1865. The entire genus is endemic to Australia.
Species
The following is a list of species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at March 2020:
* ' ...
'', ''Thryptomene
''Thryptomene'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Thryptomene'' are shrubs with small leaves arranged in opposite pairs and white or pink flowers. About forty-seven specie ...
'' and ''Baeckea
''Baeckea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, all but one endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Baeckea'' are shrubs or small trees with leaves arranged in opposite pairs, white to deep pink flowers with five s ...
''.
Species
Species include:Chamelaucium brevifolium
''Chamaelaucium brevifolium'' is a member of the family Myrtaceae 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 ...
'' Benth.
*'' Chamelaucium ciliatum'' Desf.
*'' Chamelaucium confertiflorum'' Domin
*'' Chamelaucium drummondii'' (Turcz.) Meisn.
*'' Chamelaucium gracile'' F.Muell.
*'' Chamelaucium heterandrum'' Benth.
*'' Chamelaucium marchantii'' Strid
*'' Chamelaucium megalopetalum'' F.Muell. ex Benth – large waxflower
*'' Chamelaucium micranthum'' (Turcz.) Domin
*'' Chamelaucium pauciflorum'' (Turcz.) Benth.
*'' Chamelaucium uncinatum'' Schauer – Geraldton waxflower, Geraldton wax
*'' Chamelaucium virgatum'' Endl.
Distribution and habitat
Restricted to the southwest of Western Australia, ''Chamelaucium'' species grow most commonly in heathland communities growing on sand near the coast or inland, and in granite outcrops. Some grow in more semi arid climates.[
]
Cultivation
In cultivation, they do well in dryer climates with good drainage and sunny aspect. They are hardy to frost and drought, although sensitive to ''Phytophthora cinnamomi
''Phytophthora cinnamomi'' is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants variously called " root rot", "dieback", or (in certain ''Castanea'' species), "ink disease". The plant pathogen is one of the w ...
''.[ The best known and most widely cultivated member of the genus by far is '' C. uncinatum'', which is widely grown in gardens across ]Southern Australia
The term Southern Australia is generally considered to refer to the states and territories of Australia of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia. The part of Western Australia south of lat ...
, and for the cut flower industry in the USA and Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
.
References
*
* Wilson, Peter G., O'Brien, Marcelle M., Gadek, Paul A., and Quinn, Christopher J. 2001. "Myrtaceae Revisited: A Reassessment of Infrafamilial Groups". ''American Journal of Botany
The ''American Journal of Botany'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal which covers all aspects of plant biology. It has been published by the Botanical Society of America since 1914. The journal has an impact factor of 3.038, as of 201 ...
'' 88 (11): 2013–2025. Availabl
online
(pdf file).
{{Taxonbar, from=Q142244
Myrtaceae genera
Taxa named by René Louiche Desfontaines
Endemic flora of Southwest Australia