Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms → Eudicots → Rosids
- Order: Myrtales
- Family: Myrtaceae
- Genus: Calytrix
- Species: Calytrix nematoclada
- Authority: (C.A.Gardner) Craven
Description
Calytrix nematoclada is a shrub species belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Like other members of the genus Calytrix, it bears the characteristic star‑shaped inflorescences typical of the group. Detailed morphological data (e.g., leaf dimensions, flower colour, phenology) are recorded in specialised botanical references but are not widely reproduced in general encyclopedic sources.
Distribution and Habitat
- Endemic to the south‑west region of Western Australia.
- Recorded from the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic regions.
- Grows on sandy or lateritic soils, often in kwongan heathland or shrubland communities.
Conservation Status
According to the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the species is listed as “Not Threatened” (as of the latest assessment). Conservation assessments are maintained in the Western Australian FloraBase database.
Taxonomic Notes
The species was originally described by botanist C.A. Gardner under a different genus and later transferred to Calytrix by Lyndley Craven in his revision of the genus (1990). The specific epithet “nematoclada” derives from Greek roots nemato‑ “thread” and ‑clada “branch”, referring to the plant’s slender branching habit.
References
- Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Calytrix nematoclada entry. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/
- Western Australian Herbarium (2023). FloraBase – Calytrix nematoclada profile. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/
- Craven, L.A. (1990). “A revision of the genus Calytrix (Myrtaceae)”. Nuytsia 6(3): 333‑356.
Note: Detailed morphological descriptions and ecological interactions are documented in primary taxonomic literature and regional floras; these sources should be consulted for comprehensive information.
