Calothamnus cupularis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calothamnus cupularis |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calothamnus
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| Species: |
cupularis
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca arcuata (A.S.George) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Calothamnus cupularis is a special kind of plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This plant is found only in the southwestern part of Western Australia. This means it's endemic to that area, so you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world! In 2014, some scientists suggested renaming it Melaleuca arcuata. It looks a bit like another plant called Calothamnus formosus, but its flowers and fruits are bigger.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Calothamnus cupularis is a shrub, which is a bushy plant, that can grow up to about 1.2 metres (4 ft) (about 4 feet) tall. When it's young, its stems are a bit hairy, but as it gets older, they become smooth (this is called glabrous).
Its leaves are like needles, usually between 40–100 millimetres (2–4 in) (about 1.5 to 4 inches) long and 1.0–1.3 millimetres (0.04–0.05 in) (about 0.04 to 0.05 inches) wide. They are round when you look at them in cross-section and get thinner towards the end, finishing with a sharp point.
The flowers are a bright red color. Each flower has 5 petals and 5 groups of stamens (the parts of the flower that make pollen). These stamens look a bit like claws and are about 35–38 millimetres (1.4–1.5 in) (about 1.4 to 1.5 inches) long. The sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud) have a thick ridge in the middle and wide, papery edges. The petals themselves are 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in) (about 0.28 to 0.31 inches) long.
This plant usually flowers in September or October. After the flowers bloom, they turn into fruits. These fruits are woody, smooth, and shaped like cylinders. They are called capsules and are about 12–14 millimetres (0.47–0.55 in) (about 0.47 to 0.55 inches) long.
How Was This Plant Named?
The plant Calothamnus cupularis was officially described for the first time in 2010 by a scientist named Alex George. He found a sample of the plant in the Kalbarri National Park.
The second part of its scientific name, cupularis, comes from Latin. In Latin, "cupularis" means "cup-like." This name was chosen because of the cup-like shape of the fruits of this plant.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
Calothamnus cupularis grows in a small area within the Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia. This park is part of a larger natural area called the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. Here, the plant grows in sandy soil in a type of plant community known as kwongan. Kwongan is a special kind of shrubland found in Australia, known for its many different plant species.
How Is This Plant Protected?
The government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Calothamnus cupularis a "priority 2" classification. This means that not much is known about this plant, and it is found in only one or a few specific locations. This classification helps make sure that scientists keep an eye on the plant to protect it.
