Callistemon pachyphyllus
Encyclopedia
Callistemon pachyphyllus (Wallum Bottlebrush) is a shrub
in the family Myrtaceae
. It is native to the states of New South Wales
and Queensland
in Australia
.
It grows up to 1.5 metres in height and has a dense, straggling habit. The leaves
are 45 to 90 mm long and 3 to 9 mm wide with tips that become abruptly narrow. These are crowded together on the branchlets and are linear, subulate or terete. The flower spikes, which are crimson or rarely yellowish green, are produced in summer.
The species was first formally described by botanist Edwin Cheel
in 1911 in Illustrations of New South Wales plants. In his 2006 paper New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae), Lyndley Craven, a research botanist from the Australian National Herbarium, proposed that this species should be renamed as Melaleuca pachyphylla.
A number of varieties have been identified in the past, but are not recognised in the Australian Plant Census:
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
in the family Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
. It is native to the states of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
It grows up to 1.5 metres in height and has a dense, straggling habit. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are 45 to 90 mm long and 3 to 9 mm wide with tips that become abruptly narrow. These are crowded together on the branchlets and are linear, subulate or terete. The flower spikes, which are crimson or rarely yellowish green, are produced in summer.
The species was first formally described by botanist Edwin Cheel
Edwin Cheel
Edwin Cheel was an Australian botanist and collector.Before being appointed as a staff member of Centennial Park in 1897 he was a gardener in New South Wales and Queensland. Later he transferred to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. In 1908 he joined the National Herbarium, and was appointed Chief...
in 1911 in Illustrations of New South Wales plants. In his 2006 paper New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae), Lyndley Craven, a research botanist from the Australian National Herbarium, proposed that this species should be renamed as Melaleuca pachyphylla.
A number of varieties have been identified in the past, but are not recognised in the Australian Plant Census:
- C. pachyphyllus var. angustifolius Cheel
- C. pachyphyllus Cheel var. pachyphyllus
- C. pachyphyllus var. viridus Cheel, also known by the cultivar names of 'Green' or 'Apple Green'
- C. pachyphyllus var. rubrolilacinus Cheel