Calothamnus quadrifidus

Calothamnus quadrifidus, commonly known as one-sided bottlebrush,[2] is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The common name alludes to the arrangement of the flowers in the inflorescence which line up on one side of the stem. It is a shrub with grey-green, pine-like foliage covered with soft hairs and red, four-part flowers in spring. Widely cultivated because of its attractive foliage, colourful, unusual and prolific flowers, it grows in a variety of habitats and soils. In 2010, Alex George published a review of the species based on recent research and described a number of new subspecies. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca quadrifida.)[3]

One-sided bottlebrush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Calothamnus
Species:
C. quadrifidus
Binomial name
Calothamnus quadrifidus
Synonyms

Melaleuca quadrifida (R.Br.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Yellow form

Description

Calothamnus quadrifidus is a shrub which sometimes grows to a height of 5 metres (20 ft) although usually much less and it sometimes has a lignotuber. Its leaves are variable, depending on subspecies, but usually 10–50 millimetres (0.4–2 in) long and 0.8–10 millimetres (0.03–0.4 in) wide, sometimes circular in cross section but in some subspecies flat.[2][4][5]

The flowers are usually red, although there are white and yellow forms, with the red flowered form most commonly seen in cultivation. The flowers are arranged in clusters, usually on one side of the stem amongst the older leaves. There are four petals, each 3.5–4 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long which fall off soon after the flower opens. The stamens are arranged in 4 claw-like bundles, all about the same length. In most subspecies, flowering occurs in spring. Flowering is followed by fruits which are woody, barrel-shaped capsules, 6–14 millimetres (0.24–0.55 in) long.[4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Calothamnus quadrifidus was first formally described in 1812 by Robert Brown from a specimen he collected at Lucky Bay near Esperance during the Investigator expedition with Matthew Flinders. The description was published in Curtis's Botanical Magazine (edited by John Sims).[6][7]

The subspecies described by Alex George and recognised by the Western Australian Herbarium are:[4]

Distribution and habitat

Calothamnus quadrifidus is common and widespread in the Eremaean and South-West botanical provinces, occurring in a wide range of habitats and growing in a range of soils.[8]

Ecology

Research on the competition between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and honeyeaters (especially the Brown honeyeater and White-cheeked honeyeater) for the nectar of Calothamnus quadrifidus has shown that honeyeaters consume more nectar early in the day. Honeybees, because of their much greater numbers consume a larger volume of nectar but nevertheless, honeyeaters were the more important in pollen dispersal.[9]

Conservation status

Calothamnus quadrifidus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[8] but subspecies asper is listed as "Priority Two"[10] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations. Suspecies teretifolius is listed as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[11] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[12]

Uses

Horticulture

Calothamnus quadrifidus is probably the best known of the genus in cultivation. It has attractive foliage, colourful flowers over a long period, is frost hardy and drought tolerant when well established.[13] It is attractive to honeyeating birds and although it can become woody with age, it responds well to pruning.[2]

Phytotherapeutic studies

This species has been used in phytotherapeutic studies and its aerial parts have been found to contain phenolic acids and flavonoids.[14]

  • C. quadrifidus subsp.homalophyllus
  • C. quadrifidus subsp.quadrifidus

References
  1. "Calothamnus quadrifidus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. "Calothamnus quadrifidus". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  3. 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.
  4. George, Alex S.; Gibson, Neil (2010). "A revision of Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae)" (PDF). Nuytsia. 20: 57–58. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  5. Archer, William. "One-sided Bottlebrush - Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. quadrifidus". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  6. "Calothamnus quadrifidus". APNI. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  7. Brown, Robert; Sims (ed.), John (1813). Curtis's Botanical Magazine. London: Sherwood, Neely and Jones. p. 1506. Retrieved 1 August 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "Calothamnus quadrifidus". FloraBase. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  9. Collins, Brian G.; Newland, Charles; Briffa, Peter (December 1984). "Nectar utilization and pollination by Australian honeyeaters and insects visiting Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae)". Australian Journal of Ecology. 9 (4): 353–365. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1984.tb01373.x.
  10. "Calothamnus quadrifidus subspecies asper". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. "Calothamnus quadrifidus subspecies teretifolius". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  12. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  13. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 195. ISBN 978-0002165754.
  14. Ayoub, Nahla A.; El-Ahmady, Sherweit H.; Abdel Nasser, Singab B.; Al-Azizi, Mohamed M. (2007). "Phytotherapeutic studies on Calothamnus quadrifidus R. Br (Myrtaceae)". Natural Products. 3 (1): 30–37.
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