Barrens clawflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrens clawflower |
|
|---|---|
.JPG) |
|
| Calothamnus validus growing near East Mount Barren | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Calothamnus
|
| Species: |
validus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Melaleuca valida (S.Moore) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
|
Calothamnus validus, also known as the Barrens clawflower, is a special plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which is the same family as myrtle trees. This plant is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, we say it is endemic to that place.
The Barrens clawflower is a shrub that can grow upright or in a rounded shape. It has stiff leaves that are shaped like cylinders, but they are not sharp. Its flowers are red and have four parts. The name "Barrens clawflower" comes from West Mount Barren, where the plant was first discovered. Spencer Moore was the person who officially described this plant. People often grow this plant in their gardens. Sometimes, it even grows outside of gardens in Western Australia.
Contents
What Does the Barrens Clawflower Look Like?
The Calothamnus validus plant can grow up to about 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Its leaves are usually between 20 and 40 millimetres (about 1 to 1.5 inches) long. If you look at a leaf from the end, it would be round, like a circle. The leaves get thinner towards the end, but they are not prickly or sharp.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the Barrens clawflower are red. They grow in small groups, usually with 2 to 4 flowers together. These groups are about 50 millimetres (2 inches) long. Each flower has four petals. It also has four groups of stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. These stamen groups look like claws and are all about the same length.
Unlike some other plants in its group, the flowers and fruits of the Barrens clawflower are never hidden inside thick, corky bark. The plant usually flowers from July to November. After the flowers, the plant grows fruits. These fruits are woody capsules, which are like small, hard seed pods. The fruiting capsules have two parts that are thick and curved.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Where Does the Barrens Clawflower Grow?
The Barrens clawflower is found in the Barren Mountains. This area is part of the Fitzgerald River National Park. It grows in rocky places where the ground is made of quartzite, which is a type of hard rock. It also grows in a type of plant community called kwongan.
How Is This Plant Used?
The Barrens clawflower, along with other similar plants like the one-sided bottlebrush, has been used in projects to help land recover. This is called "revegetation." These plants are also used for planting along roadsides. Sometimes, these plants escape from where they were planted and start growing on their own in other areas.
Is the Barrens Clawflower Protected?
The government department in Western Australia that looks after parks and wildlife has classified Calothamnus validus as "not threatened." This means that the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.
