Calothamnus hirsutus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calothamnus hirsutus
Calothamnus hirsutus growing 25 km north of Eneabba
Scientific classification
Genus:	Calothamnus
Species:	hirsutus
Synonyms
Melaleuca hirsuta (Hawkeswood) Craven & R.D.Edwards

The Calothamnus hirsutus is a special plant found only in the south-west of Western Australia. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which also includes gum trees. This plant is a small, bushy shrub. Its leaves have lots of tiny hairs, making them look a bit smoky. The flowers are a beautiful deep red. They usually grow in tight groups among the older leaves.

What Does Calothamnus hirsutus Look Like?

Calothamnus hirsutus is a compact shrub. This means it grows in a neat, dense shape. It can reach about 1.0 metre (3.3 feet) tall. Its older branches feel like cork, but the younger shoots are very hairy.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves are usually 20 to 25 millimetres (0.8 to 1.0 inch) long. They are shaped like thin tubes, about 0.5 to 0.8 millimetres (0.02 to 0.03 inches) wide. The leaves become narrower at the end, but they are not prickly. They have many upright hairs on them. You can also see small oil glands on the leaves.

The flowers are a deep red colour. They grow in thick groups of 4 to 8 flowers. These clusters usually appear on the older branches, hidden among the leaves. The petals are thin and papery. They are about 5 to 6 millimetres (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long and are orange to brown. The plant has special parts called stamens. These are arranged in 5 claw-like groups. Each group has 20 to 25 stamens.

When Does It Flower and Fruit?

Calothamnus hirsutus flowers from October to February. After the flowers, the plant grows fruits. These fruits are woody and almost round. They are called capsules. When they first appear, they are hairy. But as they get older, they become smooth. Each fruit is about 5 to 6 millimetres (0.20 to 0.24 inches) wide.

Growth habit

Fruit

How Did It Get Its Name?

The plant Calothamnus hirsutus was first officially described in 1984. This was done by a scientist named Trevor J. Hawkeswood. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its name, hirsutus, comes from a Latin word. It means "rough" or "hairy." This name was chosen because of the long hairs on the plant's leaves.

Proposed Name Change

In 2014, some scientists suggested changing the plant's name to Melaleuca hirsuta. However, this new name has not been officially accepted yet by the Australian Plant Census. So, for now, it is still known as Calothamnus hirsutus.

Where Does Calothamnus hirsutus Grow?

Calothamnus hirsutus grows in several areas of Western Australia. You can find it from places near Arrowsmith all the way to the suburbs of Perth. It also grows in the Helena Valley.

It lives in different natural areas. These include the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain regions. There is a large group of these plants in a special nature reserve. This reserve is called Anstey-Keane Dampland. It is located in the Perth suburb of Forrestdale.

Is It Protected?

The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants. They have classified Calothamnus hirsutus as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.