Calothamnus oldfieldii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with needle-shaped leaves and clusters of red flowers with 5 petals and 5 stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii.)[2]
Calothamnus oldfieldii is a small shrub growing to a height of about 1.5 metres (5 ft). Its leaves are 25–50 millimetres (1–2 in) long and nearly circular in cross section and taper to a pointed end.[3][4]
The flowers are bright red and arranged in small groups and the stamens are arranged in 5 claw-like bundles. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules about 5 millimetres (0.2 in) long.[3][4]
Calothamnus oldfieldii was first formally described by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1862 in Volume 3, Part 21 of Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[1][5] The specific epithet (oldfieldii) honours Augustus Frederick Oldfield, an English botanist and plant collector.
Calothamnus oldfieldii occurs in the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions[4] where it grows in sandy kwongan.[3][6]
Calothamnus oldfieldii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government department of parks and wildlife.[4]
Calothamnus oldfieldii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with needle-shaped leaves and clusters of red flowers with 5 petals and 5 stamen bundles. (In 2014 Craven, Edwards and Cowley proposed that the species be renamed Melaleuca augusti-oldfieldii.)
