Bottlebrushes
Red bottlebrush flower
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Callistemon

Callistemon /ˌkæl[invalid input: 'ɨ']ˈstmən/[2] is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814.[3] The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalized in scattered locations.[4] Their status as a separate species is in doubt, some authorities accepting that the difference between callistemons and melaleucas is not sufficient for them to be grouped in a separate genus.

Description

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Callistemon species have commonly been referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are mostly found in the more temperate regions of Australia, especially along the east coast and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, two species are found in Tasmania and several others in the south-west of Western Australia. At least some species are drought-resistant and some are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.

 
Bottlebrush seed capsules
 
Callistemon citrinus
 
Callistemon pallidus
 
Callistemon viminalis
 
Callistemon viminalis

Taxonomy

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The genus Callistemon was first formally described in 1814 by Robert Brown.[5] In his description he noted that the genus includes “those species of Metrosideros that have inflorescence similar to that of Melaleuca, and distinct elongated filaments.”[5] Carl Linnaeus had described the genus ‘’Melaleuca’’ in 1767[6] and in 1867, George Bentham brought all the Metrosideros species into Melaleuca. Bentham described melaleucas as having stamens united in bundles opposite the (five) petals.[7]

In his 1864 description of Callistemon salignus in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae, Ferdinand von Mueller noted that the difference between the genera was “entirely artificial” (“omnino artificiale").[8] George Bentham also noted in ‘’Flora Australiensis’’ that Callistemon “passes gradually into Melaleuca, with which F. Mueller proposes to unite it.”[9] In 1876, Henri Ernest Baillon proposed in Histoire des Plantes that Callistemon, as well as Calothamnus and Lamarchea be merged into Melaleuca.[10]

Nevertheless, most authors had preserved the distinction between the two genera ‘’Callistemon’’ and ‘’Melaleuca’’ until 1998. In that year, in recognition of the fact that the callistemons and melaleucas on New Caledonia were clearly related, Lyndley Craven and J.W. Dawson transferred the callistemons on that island to ‘’Melaleuca’’, even though some (eg. Melaleuca pancheri) do not have stamens fused in 5 groups.

On the basis of DNA evidence,[11] in 2006[12] and 2009[13] Craven moved all but four callistemons to melaleuca. Those four were Callistemon forresterae, Callistemon genofluvialis, Callistemon kenmorrisonii and Callistemon nyallingensis which were regarded as being hybrids.[14]

The new description of ‘’Melaleuca’’ has been accepted by some herbaria but not all. For example, the Queensland Herbarium accepts Melaleuca flammea (synonym Callistemon acuminatus)[15] but the New South Wales Herbarium accepts Callistemon acuminatus.[16] In 2012, Frank Udovicic and Roger Spencer transferred the newly described species of melaleuca with separate stamens (eg. Melaleuca megalongensis and Melaleuca wimmerensis) to Callistemon (hence Callistemon melalongensis and Callistemon wimmerensis). Their argument is that using the DNA evidence is premature.[17] They further argue that if all the genera Beaufortia, Callistemon, Calothamnus, Conothamnus, Eremaea, Melaleuca, Phymatocarpus were combined (as Craven has suggested),[18] then there would be no characteristics that would define the group.[19]

Allergenic potential

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The OPALS Allergy Scale Rating for bottlebrushes is out of 10 (extremely allergenic). Bottlebrush pollen is especially lightweight and small, allowing it to travel deeply into the lungs when inhaled. The pollen itself is shaped like a "ninja star", and has sharp spikes that can irritate the lining of the lungs even in people who are not allergic to bottlebrush pollen. The results of the non-allergic reactions include sneezing and fatigue, which resemble a typical allergic reaction. Bottlebrush pollen in a pet's fur may trigger these reactions in the pet's owners, even though the owners may have never approached the bottlebrush tree physically themselves; there has been at least one instance when bottlebrush pollen in a dog's coat caused its owner to mistake allergy-like symptoms as a severe allergy to the dog itself.

Use in horticulture

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Many commercial nurseries continue to use the name ‘’Callistemon’’. These species can be propagated either by cuttings (some species more easily than others), or from the seeds.[20] Flowering is normally in spring and early summer (October–December), but conditions may cause flowering at other times of the year. The obvious parts of the flower masses are stamens, with the pollen at the tip of the filament; the petals are inconspicuous (see picture). Flower heads vary in colour with species; most are red, but some are yellow, green, orange or white. Each flower head produces a profusion of triple-celled seed capsules around a stem (see picture) which remain on the plant with the seeds enclosed until stimulated to open when the plant dies or fire causes the release of the seeds. A few species release the seeds annually.[21][22]

Bottlebrush plants can be grown in pots.[23]

They have been grown in Europe since a specimen of Callistemon citrinus was introduced to Kew Gardens in London by Joseph Banks in 1789.[24]

Species

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One of the sources was the Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.[4]

  1. Callistemon acuminatus Cheel – Tapering-leaved Bottlebrush
  2. Callistemon brachyandrus Lindl. – Prickly Bottlebrush
  3. Callistemon chisholmii Cheel
  4. Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels – Lemon Scented Bottle Brush
  5. Callistemon coccineus F.Muell.
  6. Callistemon comboynensis Cheel – Cliff Bottlebrush
  7. Callistemon flavovirens (Cheel) Cheel – Green Bottlebrush
  8. Callistemon formosus S.T.Blake
  9. Callistemon forresterae Molyneux
  10. Callistemon genofluvialis Molyneux
  11. Callistemon glaucus (DC.) Sweet
  12. Callistemon hemistictus (S.T.Blake ex Craven) Udovicic and R.D.Spencer
  13. Callistemon kenmorrisonii Molyneux – Betka Bottlebrush
  14. Callistemon lanceolatus (Sm.) Sweet
  15. Callistemon lazaridis (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  16. Callistemon linearifolius (Link) DC.
  17. Callistemon linearis Sweet
  18. Callistemon macropunctatus (Dum.Cours.) Court
  19. Callistemon megalongensis (Craven & S.M.Douglas) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  20. Callistemon montanus C.T.White ex S.T.Blake – Mountain Bottlebrush
  21. Callistemon montis-zamiae (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  22. Callistemon nervosus Lindl.
  23. Callistemon nyallingensis Molyneux
  24. Callistemon pachyphyllus Cheel – Wallum Bottlebrush
  25. Callistemon pallidus (Bonpl.) DC. – Lemon Bottlebrush
  26. Callistemon paludosus F.Muell.
  27. Callistemon pauciflorus R.D.Spencer & Lumley
  28. Callistemon pearsonii R.D.Spencer & Lumley
  29. Callistemon phoeniceus Lindl. – Lesser Bottlebrush
  30. Callistemon phratra (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  31. Callistemon pinifolius (Wendl.) Sweet – Pine-leaved Bottlebrush
  32. Callistemon pityoides F.Muell. – Alpine Bottlebrush
  33. Callistemon polandii F.M.Bailey
  34. Callistemon pungens Lumley & R.D.Spencer
  35. Callistemon pyramidalis (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  36. Callistemon quercinus (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  37. Callistemon recurvus R.D.Spencer & Lumley
  38. Callistemon rigidus R.Br. – Stiff Bottlebrush
  39. Callistemon rugulosus (Schltdl. ex Link) DC. – Scarlet Bottlebrush
  40. Callistemon sabrina (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  41. Callistemon salignus (Sm.) Sweet – Willow Bottlebrush, White Bottlebrush
  42. Callistemon serpentinus (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
  43. Callistemon shiressii Blakely
  44. Callistemon sieberi DC.
  45. Callistemon speciosus (Sims) Sweet
  46. Callistemon subulatus Cheel
  47. Callistemon teretifolius F.Muell. – Needle Bottlebrush, Flinders Ranges Bottlebrush
  48. Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G.Don – Weeping Bottlebrush
  49. Callistemon viridiflorus (Sims) Sweet
  50. Callistemon wimmerensis Marriott & G.W.Carr
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Genus: Callistemon R. Br". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-01-27. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  2. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  3. ^ Brown, Robert. 1814. Voyage to Terra Australis 2(App. 3): 547
  4. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. ^ a b "Callistemon R.Br.'". APNI. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Melaleuca R.Br.'". APNI. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. ^ Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. London: Lovell, Reeve and Co. pp. 123–163. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  8. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (Volume 4). Melbourne. p. 55. Retrieved 22 July 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. London: Lovell, Reeve and Co. p. 55. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  10. ^ Baillon, Henri Ernest (1876). Histoires des Plantes. Paris: Libraire Hachette & Co. pp. 359–360. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  11. ^ Edwards, Robert D.; Craven, Lyn A.; Crisp, Michael D.; Cook, Lyn G. (2010). "Melaleuca revisited: cpDNA and morphological data confirm that Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) is not monophyletic". Taxon. 59 (3): 744–754. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  12. ^ Craven, Lyn A. (2006). "New combinations in Melaleuca for Australian species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae)". Novon. 16 (4): 468–478. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  13. ^ Craven, Lyn A. (10 December 2009). "Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) from Australia". Novon: A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature. 19 (4): 444–453. doi:10.3417/2007137. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  14. ^ Brophy, Joseph J.; Craven, Lyndley A.; Doran, John C. (2013). Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses (PDF). Canberra: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. p. 18. ISBN 9781922137517. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Species profile—Melaleuca flammea". Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  16. ^ Spencer, Roger David; Lumley, Peter F. "Callistemon acuminatus Cheel". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  17. ^ Brown, Gillian K.; Udovicic, Frank; Ladiges, Pauline Y. (2001). "Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Melaleuca, Callistemon and related genera (Myrtaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 14 (4): 565–585. doi:10.1071/SB00029. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  18. ^ Craven, Lyn A.; Edwards, Robert D.; Cowley, Kirsten J. (30 June 2014). "New combinations and names in Melaleuca (Myrtaceae)". Taxon. 63 (3): 663–670. doi:10.12705/633.38. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  19. ^ Udovicic, Frank; Spencer, Roger David (2012). "New combinations in Callistemon (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Muelleria. 30 (1): 23–25. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  20. ^ Williams, Bryon. "Growing Callistemon from Seed". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  21. ^ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. pp. 191–194. ISBN 0002165759.
  22. ^ Harvey, Rod. "Bottlebrush - Genus Callistemon". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  23. ^ Williams, Bryon. "Growing Callistemons in large pots". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  24. ^ Curtis, William (1794). The Botanical Magazine (Volume 8) (1 ed.). London. p. 260. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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Category:Myrtaceae genera Category:Endemic flora of Australia