''Calytrix leschenaultii'' is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

, endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. This shrub usually grows tall.

Description

Outside the flowering season, this plant is rather plain. The slightly scented, small oval leaves line the spindly shoots in an alternate arrangement, in the same way as many others in the myrtle family. The plant comes into its own when in full bloom. The star-like flowers themselves are a vivid purple with white or yellow

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s (fading to red), and appear between June and November in the species' native range. Plants with white, blue or pink flowers may also be found. The botanical name ''Calytrix'' refers to the awns or fine hairs found on the

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

of the flowers. Plants are pollinated by both birds and insects.

Taxonomy

It was first formally described by Johannes Conrad Schauer in 1844 in ''

Plantae Preissianae ''Plantae preissianae sive enumeratio plantarum quas in australasia occidentali et meridionali-occidentali annis 1838-1841 collegit Ludovicus Preiss'', more commonly known as ''Plantae preissianae'', is a book written by Johann Georg Christian Leh ...

''. He gave it the name ''Calycothrix leschenaultii''. In 1867 George Bentham transferred the species to the genus '' Calytrix''.

Distribution and habitat

''Calytrix leschenaultii'' occurs in the southwest of Australia, roughly west of a line from Kalbarri to

Israelite Bay Israelite Bay is a bay and locality on the south coast of Western Australia. Situated in the Shire of Esperance local government area, it lies east of Esperance and the Cape Arid National Park, within the Nuytsland Nature Reserve and the Grea ...

. Its favoured location is open, sandy heathland.

Cultivation

Although rarely seen in cultivation, ''Calytrix leschenaultii'' is well able to deal with the extremes of the Australian climate. Given a sunny spot in sandy soil, it can cope with both drought and frost. It is best propagated from cuttings rather than seed.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5024768 Myrtales of Australia leschenaultii Rosids of Western Australia Taxa named by George Bentham