Callistemon R. Br.

Callistemon /ˌkælɨˈstiːmən/^[2] is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814.^[3] The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalized in scattered locations.^[4]

Callistemon is sometimes considered a synonym of Melaleuca,^[1] and four Callistemon species from New Caledonia were moved to that genus by Lyndley Craven and John Dawson in 1998. Callistemon species are commonly referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are found in the more temperate regions of Australia, mostly along the east coast and south-west, and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, at least some of the species are drought-resistant. Several species are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.

Bottlebrush seed capsules

Callistemons can be propagated either by cuttings (some species more easily than others), or from the seeds. Flowering is normally in spring and early summer (October–December), but conditions may cause flowering at other times of the year. The obvious parts of the flower masses are stamens, with the pollen at the tip of the filament; the petals are inconspicuous (see picture). Flower heads vary in colour with species; most are red, but some are yellow, green, orange or white. Each flower head produces a profusion of triple-celled seed capsules around a stem (see picture) which remain on the plant with the seeds enclosed until stimulated to open when the plant dies or fire causes the release of the seeds. A few species release the seeds annually.

They are relatively slow growing though in time the larger species can grow up to 15 m (49 ft). Some are ground-hugging, and grow to only 0.5 m (1.6 ft). The leaves are linear to lanceolate and they are not deciduous.

They have been grown in Europe since a specimen of C. citrinus was introduced to Kew Gardens in London by Joseph Banks in 1789.

In Australia, Callistemon species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus including A. ligniveren. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down.

In India, bottlebrush plants/trees are grown in gardens. Their leaves have a lovely fragrance which gets released on crushing the leaves with hands.

Species[edit]

One of the sources was the Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.^[4]

Callistemon citrinus

Callistemon pallidus

Callistemon viminalis

Callistemon viminalis

1. Callistemon acuminatus Cheel – Tapering-leaved Bottlebrush
2. Callistemon brachyandrus Lindl. – Prickly Bottlebrush
3. Callistemon chisholmii Cheel
4. Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels – Crimson Bottlebrush
5. Callistemon coccineus F.Muell.
6. Callistemon comboynensis Cheel – Cliff Bottlebrush
7. Callistemon flavovirens (Cheel) Cheel – Green Bottlebrush
8. Callistemon formosus S.T.Blake
9. Callistemon forresterae Molyneux
10. Callistemon genofluvialis Molyneux
11. Callistemon kenmorrisonii Molyneux – Betka Bottlebrush
12. Callistemon lanceolatus (Sm.) Sweet
13. Callistemon lazaridis (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
14. Callistemon linearifolius (Link) DC.
15. Callistemon linearis Sweet
16. Callistemon macropunctatus (Dum.Cours.) Court
17. Callistemon megalongensis (Craven & S.M.Douglas) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
18. Callistemon montanus C.T.White ex S.T.Blake – Mountain Bottlebrush
19. Callistemon montis-zamiae (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
20. Callistemon nyallingensis Molyneux
21. Callistemon pachyphyllus Cheel – Wallum Bottlebrush
22. Callistemon pallidus (Bonpl.) DC. – Lemon Bottlebrush
23. Callistemon pauciflorus R.D.Spencer & Lumley
24. Callistemon pearsonii R.D.Spencer & Lumley
25. Callistemon phoeniceus Lindl. – Lesser Bottlebrush
26. Callistemon pinifolius (Wendl.) Sweet – Pine-leaved Bottlebrush
27. Callistemon pityoides F.Muell. – Alpine Bottlebrush
28. Callistemon polandii F.M.Bailey
29. Callistemon pungens Lumley & R.D.Spencer
30. Callistemon pyramidalis (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
31. Callistemon quercinus (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
32. Callistemon recurvus R.D.Spencer & Lumley
33. Callistemon rigidus R.Br. – Stiff Bottlebrush
34. Callistemon rugulosus (Schltdl. ex Link) DC. – Scarlet Bottlebrush
35. Callistemon sabrina (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
36. Callistemon salignus (Sm.) Sweet – Willow Bottlebrush, White Bottlebrush
37. Callistemon serpentinus (Craven) Udovicic & R.D.Spencer
38. Callistemon shiressii Blakely
39. Callistemon sieberi DC.
40. Callistemon speciosus (Sims) Sweet
41. Callistemon subulatus Cheel
42. Callistemon teretifolius F.Muell. – Needle Bottlebrush, Flinders Ranges Bottlebrush
43. Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G.Don – Weeping Bottlebrush
44. Callistemon viridiflorus (Sims) Sweet
45. Callistemon wimmerensis Marriott & G.W.Carr

Formerly placed here[edit]

• Melaleuca brevisepala (J.W. Dawson) Craven & J.W.Dawson (as C. brevisepalus J.W.Dawson)^[5]
• Melaleuca buseana (Guillaumin) Craven & J.W.Dawson (as C. buseanus Guillaumin)^[6]
• Melaleuca dawsonii Craven (as C. suberosum Pancher ex Brongn. & Gris)^[7]
• Melaleuca pancheri (Brongn. & Gris) Craven & J.W.Dawson (as C. pancheri Brongn. & Gris)^[8]
• Melaleuca sphaerodendra Craven & J.W.Dawson (as C. gnidioides (Brongn. & Gris) Guillaumin)^[9]

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Foreground: Bottlebrush buds. Background: Partial blooming bottlebrush flower.

• 

  Blooming bottlebrush found in Kelantan, Malaysia.

• 

  Bottlebrush flower partial blooming found in Kelantan, Malaysia.

• 

  Tree in bloom in Florida.

• 

  Illustration showing bottle brushes, the namesake of the plant

See also[edit]

• List of Callistemon cultivars

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Callistemon.

Wikispecies has information related to: Callistemon