Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus facts for kids
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus is a special plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. It grows naturally only in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant is similar to other types of Calothamnus quadrifidus. However, its leaves are long and a bit rough. Also, the parts of its flowers called stamens are quite long.
What it Looks Like
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus is a shrub that can grow straight up or spread out. It can reach about 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall. This plant does not have a lignotuber, which is a woody swelling that helps some plants regrow after a fire.
Its leaves grow close together. They are flat and long, or shaped like a very narrow egg. The leaves are usually 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. They are also very thin, about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide.
The flowers are red and grow in groups. They usually appear on one side of the stem among the older leaves. The stamens, which are the parts of the flower that make pollen, are grouped into four claw-like bundles. Each bundle is about 25 to 28 millimeters (1.0 to 1.1 inches) long. The bottom half of the flower's cup-like base, called the hypanthium, is hairy. The top part is smooth.
This plant mainly flowers from August to December. After flowering, it produces woody, round fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 8 to 9 millimeters (0.31 to 0.35 inches) long when fully grown.
How it Got its Name
The plant Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus was first officially described in 2010. This was done by a scientist named Alex George. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. He studied a plant sample found near Digger Rocks, north of Lake King.
The name seminudus comes from two Latin words. "Semi-" means "half," and "nudus" means "bare." This name was chosen because the upper half or two-thirds of the flower's base (the hypanthium) is smooth and "bare" of hairs.
Where it Lives
You can find Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus in a few areas in Western Australia. These include the Ironcaps, Bremer Range, and Peak Charles regions. It grows in sandy soil that comes from a type of rock called laterite. It likes to live in mallee shrubland, which is a type of bushland with many small, multi-stemmed trees.
Is it Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
