Calothamnus oldfieldii facts for kids

Calothamnus oldfieldii is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. You can only find it in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a small, bushy plant that spreads out. It has thin, needle-like leaves. Its bright red flowers grow in groups. Each flower has 5 petals and 5 groups of stamens (the parts that make pollen). In 2014, some scientists suggested changing its name to Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii.

What Calothamnus oldfieldii Looks Like

Calothamnus oldfieldii is a small shrub. It usually grows up to about 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall. Its leaves are quite long, measuring about 25 to 50 millimetres (1 to 2 inches). They are almost round and get thinner towards a pointy end.

The flowers are a bright red color. They grow in small clusters on the plant. The stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, are grouped together in 5 claw-like bundles. This plant flowers from July to November. After the flowers, it grows woody fruits. These fruits are like small seed pods, about 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) long.

Naming the Calothamnus oldfieldii Plant

The plant Calothamnus oldfieldii was first officially described in 1862. This was done by Ferdinand von Mueller. He was a government botanist from Victoria, Australia. He wrote about it in his book Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.

The second part of its name, oldfieldii, is a tribute. It honors Augustus Frederick Oldfield. He was an English botanist and plant collector.

Where Calothamnus oldfieldii Grows

You can find Calothamnus oldfieldii in specific areas of Western Australia. These areas are called the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains, and Yalgoo regions. It likes to grow in sandy soil. This type of sandy land is known as kwongan.

Protecting Calothamnus oldfieldii

The government of Western Australia looks after its plants. They have classified Calothamnus oldfieldii as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.