Calothamnus borealis facts for kids

Calothamnus borealis is a special plant found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It belongs to the myrtle family, which is called Myrtaceae. This plant is a small, upright shrub with many leaves that are packed closely together. It has pretty red flowers. You can often find it growing in sandy areas, surrounded by spiky plants called spinifex or other small bushes. In 2014, some scientists suggested a new name for it: Melaleuca aquilonia.

What Does Calothamnus borealis Look Like?

Calothamnus borealis is a low, spreading shrub. It has many stems and can grow up to about 1.0 metre (3 ft) tall. When new parts of the plant grow, they are covered with soft hairs.

Its Leaves

The leaves of this plant are very close together. They are usually 7–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long and 1.0–1.5 millimetres (0.04–0.06 in) wide. The leaves are shaped like tiny cylinders and get narrower at the end, but they are not prickly. They also have short hairs, which makes them look a bit grey.

Its Flowers and Fruits

The flowers are red and grow in small groups. Each group can have 1 to 12 individual flowers. These flowers are often hidden among the leaves. The petals are about 5 millimetres (0.2 in) long and can be pinkish or brownish. They feel a bit like paper. The plant's stamens (the parts that make pollen) are grouped into 5 claw-like bundles. Each bundle has 20 to 25 stamens.

Calothamnus borealis flowers from July to September. After the flowers, the plant grows fruits. These fruits are woody and shaped almost like cylinders. They are about 6.5–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long and 7–10 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) wide. These fruits are called capsules.

How Did It Get Its Name?

Scientists give plants special names so everyone knows exactly which plant they are talking about. This is called botanical naming.

Calothamnus borealis was first officially described in 1984. A scientist named Trevor Hawkeswood found a sample of the plant near Exmouth. The second part of its name, borealis, comes from a Latin word. It means "north" or "northern." This name was chosen because this plant grows further north than any other Calothamnus species.

Where Does Calothamnus borealis Live?

You can find Calothamnus borealis in Western Australia. It grows from the Exmouth area down to Coral Bay. There is also another group of these plants that grows separately in the Kennedy Range. This area is part of the Carnarvon region.

This plant likes to grow in sand dunes. You will often see it in areas with heath (small shrubs) or spinifex grassland.

Is Calothamnus borealis Safe?

The government department in Western Australia that looks after parks and wildlife says that this plant is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants, and they are not in danger of disappearing.