Calytrix is a genus of about 83 species of flowering plants, commonly known as star flowers,[2] in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Calytrix are small to large shrubs with small, spreading and more or less round leaves, the flowers arranged singly in leaf axils. The flowers are bisexual with 5 overlapping sepals with a long awn, and many stamens.

Starflowers
Calytrix tetragona
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Tribe: Chamelaucieae
Subtribe: Calytricinae
Genus: Calytrix
Labill.[1]
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Calothrix W.Fitzg. orth. var.
    • Calycothrix Meisn. nom. illeg., nom. superfl.
    • Calycothrix A. Octandra Schauer nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix B. Decandrae Schauer nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix C. Icosandrae Schauer nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix I. Exstipulatae Schauer nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix II. Stipulatae Schauer nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix sect. Brachychaetae Nied.
    • Calycothrix Meisn.sect. Calycothrix
    • Calycothrix sect. Coilosiphon F.Muell. nom. inval., nom. nud.
    • Calycothrix sect. Lhotskya (Schauer) F.Muell.
    • Calycothrix sect. Lhotzkya F.Muell. orth. var.
    • Calycothrix sect. Macrochaetae Nied. nom. inval.
    • Calycothrix sect. Plerosiphon F.Muell.
    • Calythrix DC. orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Brachychaetae C.A.Gardner orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Coelotrachylae J.M.Black orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Eucalythrix Kuntze nom. inval.
    • Calythrix sect. Lhotskya Kuntze orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Lhotzkya Kuntze orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Macrochaetae C.A.Gardner orth. var.
    • Calythrix sect. Stereotrachylae J.M.Black orth. var.
    • Calythropsis C.A.Gardner
    • Calytrhix A.Rich. orth. var.
    • Calytrix sect. Brachychaetae (Nied.) C.A.Gardner
    • Calytrix Labill. sect. Calytrix
    • Calytrix sect. Coelotrachylae J.M.Black
    • Calytrix sect. Lhotskya (Schauer) Kuntze
    • Calytrix sect. Macrochaetae C.A.Gardner
    • Calytrix sect. Stereotrachylae J.M.Black
    • Lhotskya Schauer
    • Lhotzseya Endl. orth. var.
    • Trichocalyx Schauer nom. rej.

Description

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Plants in the genus Calytrix are dwarf to large shrubs with overlapping or widely-spaced leaves, but with stipules absent or small. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils with 2 bracteoles at the base. The floral tube is usually long and tube-shaped with 5 overlapping sepals with a long awn on the end and 5 lance-shaped to elliptic petals that are free from each other and fall from the flower as it develops. There are many stamens, in one to several whorls. The fruit is a small, dry nut containing a single seed.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Taxonomy

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The genus Calytrix was first formally described in 1806 by Jacques Labillardière in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen, and the first species he described (the type species was Calytrix tetragona.[8][9] The genus name (Calytrix) means "calyx hair", referring to the sepal awns.[10]

Distribution

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Calytrix are endemic to Australia, occurring in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia, but the majority of species occur in the south-west of Western Australia.[3]

Species list

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The following is a list of Calytrix species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at June 2024:[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Calytrix". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Calytrix". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b Jeanes, Jeff A.; Stajsic, Val. "Calytrix". Royal Botanic Garden Victoria. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Calytrix". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Calytrix". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  6. ^ Wilson, Peter G. "Calytrix". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  7. ^ Craven, Lyndley (1987). "A taxonomic revision of Calytrix Labill. (Myrtaceae)". Brunonia. 10 (1): 4–11. doi:10.1071/BRU9870001.
  8. ^ "Calytrix". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  9. ^ Labillardière, Jacques J.H. (1806). Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen. Paris: Ex typographia Dominæ Huzard. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ^ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 66. ISBN 9780958034180.
  11. ^ "Calytrix". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 June 2024.