Callistemon, Or Krasivotynochnik

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Callistemon, or beautifully-bred (lat. Callistemon) - a genus of evergreen, originally flowering plants of the Myrtaceae family (lat. Myrtaceae). These can be shrubs or short trees. All species of the genus are endemic to Australia, but widely dispersed throughout the world, where they are cultivated as beautiful ornamental plants.

What's in your name

The Latin name of the genus "Callistemon" is based on two Greek words: "kallos" and "stimonas", which in Russian correspond to the words: "beauty" and "stamen". Thus, relying on the Greek language, we translate the Latin name of the genus as "Beautiful stamen", although it would sound more pleasant - "The beauty of the stamen".

Plants of the Callistemon genus are often called bottlebrushes for the shape of their inflorescences, which resembles a bristle brush for washing bottles.

Generally, there is no consensus among botanists about the independence of this kind of plants. Many believe that these plants would feel great and identify themselves in the ranks of the Melaleuca genus of the same family. Therefore, in the literature you can find the same plant, which some call, for example, "Callistemon formosus", and others "Melaleuca formosa".

Until botanists have completely figured out the genetics of plants of a given genus, we will assume that the genus has the right to an independent existence.

Description

In Australia, plants of the genus prefer to live in the humid conditions of the east coast of the mainland. But there are species that grow in southwest Australia and the island of Tasmania that tolerate drought well. Such species are naturalized, for example, in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada.

The genus of evergreens Callistemon is represented on the planet by shrubs or trees, the height of which varies from half a meter to fifteen meters.

The following can be said about simple whole leaves of plants of the genus: in shape, these are narrow lanceolate leaves with sharp tips; the leaves are leathery and hard to the touch, the sharp edges of the leaf plate can injure human skin; the color of the leaves is grayish-green, as if slightly powdered; the leaves are arranged on the stems in the next order, often hanging, like the leaves of our weeping willow hang.

The most picturesque part of the plant is the cylindrical inflorescences. Their length ranges from five to twelve centimeters with a cross-sectional diameter of three to six centimeters. Inflorescences are located at the ends of the branches, but are not their end, but give way to a short shoot. The inflorescences are formed by small numerous flowers, which you cannot immediately see behind even more numerous long stamens sticking out in different directions, like the bristles sticking out of a brush for washing bottles. Stamens can be of different colors (white, pink, purple, cream, yellow, green, orange or bright red), giving their color to the general appearance of the plant.

The fruit of the plants is polyspermous globular woody capsules.

Varieties

Adhering to the view of botanists who consider it possible for the existence of an independent genus of plants with the name "Callistemon", we list several species that they ranked in this genus:

* Callistemon lemon (Latin Callistemon citrinus)

* Callistemon woven (Latin Callistemon viminalis)

* Callistemon subulate (Latin Callistemon subulatus)

* Callistemon salignus (Latin Callistemon salignus)

* Callistemon pointed (Latin Callistemon acuminatus)

* Callistemon purple-red (Latin Callistemon phoeniceus)

* Callistemon pine (Latin Callistemon pinifolius).

Usage

Picturesque plants of the Callistemon genus are widely used in decorating parks, gardens, resort promenades in areas with a warm climate, humid or dry, choosing the type of plant that suits the climate.