Bottlebrush
From Freepedia
| Bottlebrush | ||||||||||||
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| Image:Bottlebrush.jpg Red bottlebrush flower | ||||||||||||
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About 34 species including: |
Image:Bottlebrush seeds.jpg Bottlebrush (Callistemon) is a genus with 34 species from the family Myrtaceae. The majority of Callistemon species are endemic to Australia, four species are also found in New Caledonia. They 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. They are relatively slow growing though in time the larger species can grow up to 4 metres. The leaves are linear to lanceolate and are not shed in the winter. They have been grown in Europe since a specimen of Callistemon citrinus was introduced to Kew Gardens in London by Joseph Banks in 1789. They can be propagated either by cuttings (some species more easily than others), or from the rounded seeds which remain on the plant.
In Australia, Callistemon species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genus Aenetus. These burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down.
