Calothamnus affinis facts for kids

Calothamnus affinis is a type of plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. You can only find it growing naturally in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's a shrub that can grow upright, stay compact, or spread out. In spring, it shows off beautiful red to purple flowers.

What Does Calothamnus affinis Look Like?

This plant is a compact shrub, meaning it grows in a neat, dense shape. It can reach about 2.0 metres (7 ft) (around 6.6 feet) tall. Its leaves are a light green color and are shaped like thin cylinders, getting narrower at the tip.

The flowers of Calothamnus affinis are quite interesting! Each flower has 5 sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the bud) and 5 petals. It also has special parts called stamens, which are joined together to form 5 bundles that look a bit like claws.

Where Does Calothamnus affinis Grow?

You can find Calothamnus affinis in the very southern part of Western Australia. It grows in areas like the Stirling Range district. This plant likes to grow in sandy soils and a type of reddish soil called laterite.

How Did Calothamnus affinis Get Its Name?

The plant Calothamnus affinis was first officially described in 1852 by a scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow.

The second part of its scientific name, affinis, means "allied to" or "similar to." This name was chosen because this plant looks a lot like another species called Calothamnus gracilis.

In 2014, some scientists suggested changing its name to Melaleuca relativa. However, this new name is not currently accepted by the main plant naming authority in Australia, the Australian Plant Census.

Is Calothamnus affinis Endangered?

The good news is that the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this species as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.