Calothamnus formosus facts for kids

Calothamnus formosus is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. This plant is a big, bushy shrub with lots of leaves. Its leaves are almost round and pointy, and it has pretty red flowers that bloom in spring or summer. There are two main types, or subspecies, of this plant, and they are mostly different because of how long their leaves are.

What it Looks Like

Calothamnus formosus is a large, spreading shrub that can grow up to about 2.5 metres (8 ft) tall, sometimes even taller! It has thick bark on its older stems. The leaves are packed closely together at the ends of the younger branches. They are usually 40–90 millimetres (2–4 in) long and very thin, about 0.8–1.2 millimetres (0.03–0.05 in) wide. They are shaped like a line, almost round if you cut them in half, and they get narrower to a sharp point. But don't worry, the point isn't prickly!

The flowers are a bright crimson red. They grow in small groups of 3 to 5 flowers, usually on the older stems that don't have leaves. The petals are thin and feel like paper, measuring about 3.5–6 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long. Inside the flowers, the stamens (which are the parts that make pollen) are grouped together like claws. Each claw-like group has about 26 to 32 stamens. The bottom part of these "claws" is yellow-green, but the rest is crimson red, just like the flowers.

This plant usually flowers from August to December. After the flowers, it grows fruits. These fruits are woody, meaning they are hard like wood, and they are shaped like small cylinders. They are about 6.6–8 millimetres (0.26–0.31 in) long and 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) wide. They also have a bumpy surface.

How it Got its Name

The plant Calothamnus formosus was first officially described in 1984. This description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. A scientist named Trevor Hawkeswood found a sample of the plant on a roadside near Denham.

The second part of its scientific name, formosus, comes from a Latin word. It means "beautifully formed" or "handsome."

There are two main types, or subspecies, of Calothamnus formosus:

• Calothamnus formosus subsp. formosus: This type usually has leaves that are shorter than 70 millimetres (3 in). You can find it in the Shark Bay area.
• Calothamnus formosus subsp. rigidus: This type has leaves that are mostly longer than 70 millimetres (3 in). It grows between the Overlander Roadhouse and the Yuna area.

Where it Lives

Calothamnus formosus grows in Western Australia. You can find it in the areas around Shark Bay and Yuna. It lives in places called the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains, and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. These are special areas defined by their geography and climate. This plant likes to grow in sandy soil on flat, sandy plains.

Is it Safe?

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