Callistemon citrinus

Ruby Bottlebrush ( Callistemon citrinus ) with inflorescences

The Crimson Bottlebrush ( Callistemon citrinus ) is a plant of the genus Bottlebrush ( Callistemon ) in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae ). She is from Australia and is used because of its eye-catching cylindrical inflorescences as an ornamental plant.

Description

The Crimson Bottlebrush grows as evergreen, upright shrub with independent stature heights of usually 1 to 3 meters, more rarely as a small tree with plant height 2-7 meters. The crown reaches diameter of about 3 meters. The bark is light brown and rough. The alternate arranged on the branches leaves are more or less sedentary. The simple, leathery leaf blade is at a length of 3-7 inches and a width of 5 to 8 mm verkehrt.lanzettlich to narrow -elliptic with tapering Spreitengrund and most pungent short tapered at the top. On both leaf surfaces, the veins are hardly noticeable and the glands sometimes clearly visible. The crushed leaves smell slightly of lemons, hence the epithet citrinus. The fresh sprouting leaves are hairy and often silvery first golden to copper in color.

The flowering period extends from spring to summer, often until well into the autumn. The aged men inflorescences have a length of 6 to 10 inches and a diameter of 4-7 cm and in appearance, to bottle brushes. The perianth is unimpressive. Visually striking are of the individual parts of the flowers depending on the population or variety bright - red, crimson, purple or violet stamens, which give the whole inflorescence the striking ruby color. The anthers are dark. The inflorescence axis is above the inflorescence continues its development with a series of normal leaves. After some time, then changes to the next inflorescence, often even before the fruits of the old inflorescence mature. Pollination is mainly taken from birds who do not master the hover and sit on the yields of the flowers on the branches in the blossom -free scion sections.

The relatively strong woody, hard seed capsules have a diameter of 4-7 mm and contain many tiny seeds. The seed capsules often remain closed for several years at the plant. Only after a bush fire to open the capsule and release the fruit seeds; the Crimson Bottlebrush is therefore a Pyrophyt.

Occurrence

The natural range of the Crimson cylinder Putzers located in the south-eastern Australian states of eastern New South Wales, eastern Queensland and the eastern tip of Victoria.

It is widespread and locally common in marshes near the coast and along rocky watercourses.

Taxonomy

The first publication was in 1794 by the English botanist William Curtis under the name ( basionym ) Metrosideros citrina in the Botanical Magazine, Volume 8, Table 260, the new combination to Callistemon citrinus 1913 by the American botanist Homer Collar Skeels in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin, Volume 282, p 49 published. The specific epithet citrina, citrinus refers to the slightly lemon scented leaves.

Other synonyms for Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels are: Metrosideros lanceolata Sm nom. illeg. , Callistemon lanceolatum var sparsum rule orth var, Callistemon lanceolatus (Sm. ) DC. , Callistemon lanceolatus Colvill ex Sweet var lanceolatus, Callistemon lanceolatus Colvill ex Sweet f lanceolatus, Callistemon lanceolatum var Colvill orth, Melaleuca citrina (Curtis) Dum.Cours. , Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels var citrinus, Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Stapf, Callistemon lanceolatus var sparsus rule nom. inval. , Callistemon lanceolatus Colvill ex Sweet nom. illeg. , Callistemon laevis Anon. nom. inval. , Callistemon marginatus ( Cav. ) DC. , Callistemon lophanthum Sweet orth var, Metrosideros rugulosa Sieber ex Benth. nom. illeg. , Callistemon lanceolatum var pendulum control orth var, Callistemon lanceolatus f semperflorens ( Lodd., G.Lodd. & W.Lodd. ) Siebert & Voss, Metrosideros semperflorens Lodd. , G.Lodd. & W.Lodd. , Callistemon citrinus var splendens Stapf, Callistemon lanceolatus var pendulus rule, Callistemon lanceolatus var lophanthus ( Vent. ) Heynh. , Callistemon lophanthus ( Vent. ) Sweet, Metrosideros lophantha Vent., Callistemon marginatus ( Cav. ) Sweet, Metrosideros marginata Cav., Metrosideros latifolia Dum.Cours. nom. inval. , Callistemon lanceolatus var semperflorens ( Lodd., G.Lodd. & W.Lodd. ) Heynh. , Callistemon marginatum Sweet orth var, Callistemon semperflorens ( Lodd., G.Lodd. & W.Lodd. ) Heynh. , Callistemon citrina Skeels orth var.

Use

The Crimson Bottlebrush is extensively used as an ornamental plant, for example, in sub-tropical parks and gardens, or as a container plant in the moderate latitudes.

There is a wide range of varieties that are not caused by crossings but by vegetative reading. Here is a selection:

• 'Burgundy ': With purple flowers.
• 'Endeavour': With red flowers.
• ' Mauve Mist': With mauve flowers.
• ' Reeves Pink': With pink flowers.
• 'White Anzac ': With white flowers.

The leaves can be added to tea blends and have an enjoyable refreshing taste.

A tan dye is extracted from the flowers and it does not require a mordant. From the foliage leaves a zimtfarbener dye is obtained.

The hard, heavy wood is too small for economic use. But it prepared therefrom tool handles. As firewood it is also used.

Pests and diseases

The fungus Sphaeropsis tumefacens can cause galling on the young shoots.