Calothamnus graniticus

	Family:	Myrtaceae
	Distribution:	South-west Western Australia. The type sub-species is restricted to a granite slope facing a beach slightly west of Dunsborough, where it is locally common. A narrow leafed sub-species occurs in a few locations in the Jarrah forest.
	Common Name:	Granite claw flower.
	Derivation of Name:	Calothamnus; From Greek kalos, beautiful and thamnos, a shrub. graniticus; Referring to the location of the type of the species - a granite slope.
	Conservation Status:	Not considered to be at risk in the wild at the species level.

General Description:

Calothamnus is a genus of more than 40 species, all of which are found in south Western Australia. It is related to Melaleuca but differs in the arrangement of the anthers on the ends of the stamens. Its closest relatives are other Western Australian genera including Beaufortia, Eremaea and Regelia. All members of the genus have red or redish flowers; some also have yellow or brown flowers. Most have linear to needle shaped leaves; a few have slightly broader leaves.

Calothamnus graniticus Photo: Jim Barrow

Several members of the genus are called "claw-flowers" because of the claw-like shape of the stamen bundles. The name 'net bush' is also used for some species because the long stamens on the one-sided flower clusters resemble a net but this name is not officially recognized. C.graniticus has no official common name so we have dubbed it granite claw flower.

Rain-soaked foliage of C.graniticus subsp.leptophyllus Photo: Jim Barrow

The genus was named by Robert Brown who collected three species when he visited Lucky Bay near Esperance during the Flinders expedition in January 1801. Brown must have been impressed by the dark green leaves which would have contrasted with the summer colours of the other plants. Hence the genus name.

Two sub-species of C.graniticus are recognised: the type (subspecies graniticus) and a narrow leafed sub-species leptophyllus (Greek leptos, thin; phyllon, leaf).

C.graniticus and C.quadrifidus both have attractive, dark green leaves but the leaves of C.graniticus are longer - 5-6 cm compared to 2-3 cm. It therefore looks rather pine like - but a pine tree with bright red flowers! It is therefore an attractive shrub well suited to a sunny position.

The flowers contain nectar and are attractive to honeyeating birds. The curvature of the flower nicely matches that of the bird's beak so the pollen is deposited on the birds head. Flowers are followed by large woody seed capsules which retain the seed for many years. It can become rather woody with age especially when carrying many seed capsules but responds to hard pruning and will tolerate extended dry periods once established.

Propagation is easy from seed and presumably from cuttings.