Piawaning clawflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Piawaning clawflower |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calothamnus
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| Species: |
accedens
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca accedens (Hawkeswood) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Calothamnus accedens, also known as the Piawaning clawflower, is a special plant. It belongs to the myrtle family. This plant grows only in the southwest of Western Australia.
It has an amazing story! It was first described in 1984. Then, it was thought to be extinct in 1992. But in 2004, it was found again! By 2013, it was removed from the "extinct" list. In 2015, scientists found over 25,000 of these plants. It is a small shrub with crowded, hairy leaves. It also has pretty red flowers.
What it Looks Like
Calothamnus accedens is a shrub that can grow up to about 1.8 metres (6 ft) tall. It usually has one main stem. This stem sometimes has bark that feels like paper. The plant has many branches that grow close together.
Its leaves are stiff and look like needles. They are about 10–15 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long. They are also very narrow, about 0.8–1.0 millimetre (0.03–0.04 in) wide. When they are new, the leaves are covered with long, whitish hairs. As they get older, they become smooth. You can also see tiny oil glands on the leaves.
The flowers are a dark pink or crimson color. They grow in groups of 4 to 10. These clusters are usually on one side of the stem. The petals are about 6.5–8 millimetres (0.3–0.3 in) long. Each petal has a clear vein in the middle. The stamens are the parts that make pollen. They are grouped together in bundles that look like claws. Each bundle has 15 to 21 stamens.
This plant usually flowers in February. After the flowers, it grows fruits. These fruits are woody and shaped like a cup or cylinder. They are about 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long. They are also about 6.2–9 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) across. These fruits are called capsules.
How it Got its Name and History
The Calothamnus accedens was first officially described in 1984. This was done by a scientist named Trevor J. Hawkeswood. He found a plant sample near Piawaning and Wongan Hills. Sadly, the plants in that area were destroyed in the 1980s. This happened because of road construction. So, in 1992, the species was declared extinct.
But then, in 2004, a plant sample was collected during a survey. This led to finding other groups of these plants. By 2007, experts thought there were more than 25,000 plants! Because of this, the species was removed from the endangered list. This happened in 2013.
The second part of its name, accedens, comes from Latin. It means "approximating" or "resembling." This name was chosen because the plant is very similar to two other species. These are C. brevifolius and C. hirsutus.
Where it Grows
Calothamnus accedens grows in an area of Western Australia. This area is between Perth and about 420 kilometres (300 mi) north of Perth. It can be found in several natural areas. These include the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain. It likes to grow in sandy soils. These soils are usually found over a type of rock called laterite.
Keeping it Safe
This plant was removed from the "extinct" list on March 6, 2013. It is also suggested that it be removed from other lists. These lists are under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Even though some groups of these plants are not in protected areas, many are safe. It is thought that at least 20,000 individual plants live in a national park. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a "Priority Four" rating. This means the plant is rare or nearly threatened. It is being watched to make sure it stays safe.
