Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus |
|
|---|---|
.JPG) |
|
| Calothamnus quadrifidus homalophyllus growing near the Red Bluff car park, Kalbarri | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Calothamnus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. q. subsp. homalophyllus
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus (F.Muell.) A.S.George & N.Gibson
|
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Melaleuca quadrifida subsp. homalophylla (F.Muell.) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
|
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus is a special type of plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, which is called Myrtaceae. This plant only grows naturally in the southwest part of Western Australia. It looks a lot like other plants in the Calothamnus quadrifidus group. But its leaves are longer and wider than the others.
What it Looks Like
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus is a shrub. It can grow straight up or spread out. Sometimes, it gets as tall as 5 metres (20 ft). This plant does not have a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. A lignotuber helps some plants regrow after a fire.
Its leaves are flat and shaped like an egg, but narrower at the bottom. They are usually 30–50 millimetres (1–2 in) long. The leaves are also about 5–10 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) wide.
The flowers are red and grow in groups. They often appear on just one side of the stem. You can usually find them among the older leaves. The stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, are grouped into 4 claw-like bundles. Each bundle is about 27–32 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in) long. This plant mostly flowers from August to November. After the flowers, it grows woody, round fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 6–8 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long.
.JPG)
.JPG)
How it Got its Name
The plant Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus was officially described in 2010. This was done by a scientist named Alex George in a science journal called Nuytsia. But its story goes back further!
It was first described in 1849 by Ferdinand von Mueller. He called it Calothamnus homalophyllus. He found a sample of the plant near Red Bluff, which is on the Murchison River.
Where it Lives
You can find Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus in a few areas of Western Australia. It grows between Mingenew, the lower Murchison River, and Eurardy Reserve. These areas are part of different natural regions. These regions include the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain.
Is it Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at this plant. They have classified Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. homalophyllus as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
