There are quite a few plants in Australia which are locally known as "Bottlebrush" including several which are actually Melaleuca species. Callistemon is the genus properly known as Bottlebrush and this one has narrow mucronate leaves (end in a point). It prefers sandy coastal habitats which is exactly where this one was found and can be grown in parks and gardens reasonably easily which is probably why some organisations have classified it as invasive in spite of the fact that it is both native and endemic.

Callistemon means "beautiful anthers" but there have been attempts following DNA analysis to move Callistemon to the Melaleuca genus. This has not be been universally accepted and Plantlist1.1 still gives Callistemon rigidus as the accepted name.

Callistemon rigidus Stiff Bottlebrush Bush near Manly, near Sydney, Eastern Australia 18th October 2015 Previous   Next

Callistemon rigidus Stiff Bottlebrush

Bush near Manly, near Sydney, Eastern Australia 18th October 2015

Added on 14th November 2015