Calothamnus lehmannii, commonly known as dwarf claw flower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low-lying, sometimes ground-hugging shrub with long, thin, cylindrical leaves and clusters of red flowers that are smaller than any others in the genus Calothamnus.
| Calothamnus lehmannii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Calothamnus |
| Species: | C. lehmannii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calothamnus lehmannii | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Melaleuca johannis-lehmannii Craven & R.D.Edwards | |
Description edit
Calothamnus lehmannii grows to a height of about 0.5 metres (1.6 ft). Its leaves are 10–25 millimetres (0.4–1 in) long and circular in cross section.[1][2]
The flowers are arranged in small clusters and partly buried in the corky bark of the stems. They are red and have 4 sepals, 4 petals and 4 claw-like bundles of stamens, all less than 10 millimetres (0.4 in) long. The upper two bundles contain only 4 or 5 stamens and the lower ones are reduced to a single stamen. Flowering occurs between August and October and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Calothamnus lehmannii was first formally described by Johannes Schauer in 1843 in Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno.[3] The specific epithet (lehmannii) honours the German botanist, Johann Lehmann.[4] (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca johannis-lehmannii.)[4]
Distribution and habitat edit
Calothamnus lehmannii occurs in and between the Bowelling and Stirling Range districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions.[1][2] It grows in sandy soils on plains and hillsides.[5]
Conservation edit
Calothamnus lehmannii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c Hawkeswood, Trevor J. (1984). "Nine new species of Calothamnus Labill. (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae) from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 5 (1): 124–125. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Calothamnus lehmannii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Calothamnus lehmannii". APNI. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ a b Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (30 June 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 666. doi:10.12705/633.38.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 351. ISBN 0646402439.