Callistemon, or Beautiful stamen
Callistemon, or Beautiful Stamina (lat. Callistemon) is a genus of evergreen, original flowering plants of the Myrtaceae family (lat. Myrtaceae).
These can be shrubs or low trees. All species of the genus are endemic to Australia, but are widely distributed 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, based on the Greek language, we translate the Latin name of the genus as “Beautiful stamen,” although it would sound more pleasant — “Beauty of the stamen.”
Plants of the genus Callistemon are often called “bottlebrushes” because of the shape of their inflorescences, which resembles a bristled brush for washing bottles.
In fact, there is no consensus among botanists regarding the independence of this genus of plants. Many believe that these plants would feel great and be identified if they were among the plants of the genus “Melaleuca” 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 fully understand the genetics of plants of this genus, we will assume that the genus has the right to 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 growing in southwestern Australia and on the island of Tasmania that tolerate drought well. Such species are naturalized, for example, in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada.
The genus of evergreen plants 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 the simple whole leaves of plants of the genus: in shape they are narrow lanceolate leaves with sharp tips; the leaves are leathery and hard to the touch, the sharp edges of the leaf blade can injure human skin; the color of the leaves is grayish-green, as if slightly powdered; The leaves are arranged on the stems in a regular order, often hanging, like the leaves of our Weeping Willow hang.
The most picturesque part of the plant is the inflorescences, which have a cylindrical shape. Their length ranges from five to twelve centimeters with a cross-sectional diameter of three to six centimeters. The 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 numerous small flowers, which you can’t immediately see behind the even more numerous long stamens sticking out in different directions, like the bristles sticking out on a brush for washing bottles. The stamens can have different colors (white, pink, purple, cream, yellow, green, orange or bright red), giving their color the overall appearance of the plant.
The fruits of the plants are multi-seeded spherical 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 classify as this genus:
* Lemon Callistemon (lat. Callistemon citrinus)
* Callistemon woven (lat. Callistemon viminalis)
* Callistemon subulate (lat. Callistemon subulatus)
* Callistemon salignus (lat. Callistemon salignus)
* Callistemon pointed (lat. Callistemon acuminatus)
* Callistemon purple-red (lat. Callistemon phoeniceus)
* Pine Callistemon (lat. Callistemon pinifolius).
Usage
Picturesque plants of the genus Callistemon are widely used in decorating parks, gardens, and resort promenades in areas with a warm climate, wet or dry, by selecting the type of plant appropriate to the climate.
