/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Callistemon-citrinus-P1000677-California-1.jpg
(Images by Ravi Vaidyanathan (Id by J.M.Garg) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more photos & complete details, click on the links))

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_6494.jpg

 

(Images by Alka Khare (Id by Gurcharan Singh) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details, click on the links))

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Callistemon%20citrinus_Ooty3-7.JPG

Callistemon polandii F.M.BaileyAs per efi thread: Shrub or small tree with ovate-lanceolate leaves, mostly broader than 1 cm, hairy; heads very dense, more than 5 cm broad; stamens crimson with yellow anthers; Seems to be differing from C. speciosus, both having yellow anthers, in shorter and much broader leaves, much more hairy when young, and broader, denser spikes.
Images by Gurcharan Singh (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details, click on the links)

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Callistemon-pollandii-confrm-Sunnyvale-DSC07944-California-3.jpg
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0299-6.JPG

Callistemon rigidus R.Br. ? (Images by Aarti S Khale & Bhagyashri Ranade (Both Id suggestion by Gurcharan Singh) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details, click on the links))

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/P1220111.JPG

Callistemon salignus (Sm.) Colv. ex Sweet (Images by Aarti S Khale (Id by Gurcharan Singh & A H Munshi) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details, click on the links)) 

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/White%20Bottle%20Brush-Willow%20Bottle%20Brush-Callistemon%20%20salignus-Lalbagh-Bangalore-DSC_0832-7.JPG

Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G.Don ex Loudon (Images by Surajit Koley, Gurcharan Singh, Nidhan Singh & Alka Khare (Id by Gurcharan Singh & Surajit Koley) (Inserted by J.M.Garg) (For more images & complete details, click on the links))

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSCN8831-4.jpg
Binomial Habit Notes References Distribution
Callistemon
brachyandrus
Lindl.
Shrub Western Ghats,
High Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Flora of Tamil
Nadu, VOL. I, 1983
Dindigul, Nilgiri
Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Stapf Tree Plains
to Low Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Flora
of Tamil Nadu, VOL. I, 1983
All
districts
Callistemon polandii Bailey Shrub Western
Ghats, High Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Matthew,
1999
Dindigul
Callistemon rigidus R. Br.  Shrub Western
Ghats, High Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Flora
of Tamil Nadu, VOL. I, 1983
Dindigul
Callistemon salignus DC. Tall
shrub or small tree
Western
Ghats, High Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Flora
of Tamil Nadu, VOL. I, 1983
Nilgiri
Callistemon viminalis (Gaertn.) Don ex
Loudon
Shrub Western
Ghats, High Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Australia 
Matthew,
1999
Dindigul

Botanical name Family Common name
Callistemon rigidus Myrtaceae Stiff Bottle Brush
Callistemon salignus Myrtaceae White Bottle Brush
Callistemon viminalis Myrtaceae Weeping Bottle Brush

.

.

Callistemon :
I have updated eFI (efloraofindia) page on Callistemon

Attempts have been made to incorporate most of the species available in India & nearby areas with details & keys directly or through links as far as possible.

Species discussed so far in efloraofindia are given at the bottom of the page in the form of links against Subpages. On clicking them one can see all the details. Any comments are welcome.


.

Most of us know through Floras and common books Callistemon lanceolatus DC. as the commonest species of Callistemon cultivated in many parts of India. As it turned out for last 5 to six decades this was considered as synonym of C. citrinus (Curtis) Stapf.
As has been clearly specified in Trees of Delhi (Pradip Krishen) none of the specimens grown in Delhi belong to C. citrinus. They actually belong to C. viminalis (Soland. ex Gaertn.) Cheel., the two similarly looking species are distinguished as under:
C. viminalis: Tree with drooping slender branches; leaves linear-lanceolate, up to 10 cm long and 4-7 mm broad; flowers scarlet–red in up to 7 cm long dense spikes; filaments united at base; fruits not persisting on old wood.
C. citrinus: Shrub or tree with short arching branches; leaves broadly lanceolate, rigid, up to 7 cm long, 6-12 mm broad; flowers scarlet red in up to 10 cm long spike; filaments free at base; fruits persisting on 2–3 year old branches.
C. viminalis is aptly represented in our website through uploads of Balkar ji , Rathinasabapathy ji and several posts of Bimal ji I am uploading mine from Delhi here.
Now there is a big catch. It has now been established (both on The Plant List and GRIN) that C. lanceolatus (Sm.) Sweet and C. citrinus (Curtis) skeels are two distinct species and not synonymous (although C. lanceolatus DC. a synonym of latter). It would as such be interesting to know the differences between the two to be able to place our specimens properly. Perhaps some member can help.
I also have feeling that C. rigidus of Flowers of India and one uploaded by Aarti ji from Lalbagh may actually be one of these two species, as C. rigidus has much narrower almost linear lobes and capsules with almost close mouth where as in both above uploads leaves are broader almost broadly lanceolate with capsules with clearly open mouths.
Perhaps once differences between C. lanceolatus and C. citrinus as understood now, are know, we can place our specimens correctly.

.
As per efi thread :
The Weeping Bottlebrush tree [C.viminalis] is larger than the Red Bottlebrush tree [C.citrinus], but is mainly differentiated from the latter by having stamens that are united in a ring at the base [whereas in the latter the filaments are free]. 


.
As per efi thread :
Differences between C. citrinus and C. viminalis:
C. viminalis has longer, more weeping branches. It is generally a tree of moister, wetter soils and climates. Bark is distinctly furrowed, with corky ridges. Inflorescences are longer, to approx. 15cm in length. Flower color is typically dull, light red, though pink and some darker red forms exist.
C. citrinus is generally shrubby, though can reach small tree (to 8-9 m) status in favorable, dry sites. It does not thrive in moist, humid climates. Bark is tight, flaky, and can be peeled easily in long strips. Inflorescences may be erect to nodding, seldom completely pendant, to approx. 10-12 cm in length, 2/3 as wide. They are typically bright red, more densely packed on the stem than C. viminalis. Color forms in mauve to purple also exist.

.

Pl. go through Callistemon page (Myrtaceae) with images of species in efloraofindia (done by me).

If you find any mis-identification, pl. let us know.
If anybody can send images of other species of this genera (for incorporation in the website), it will be really nice. Also, if anybody is interested to take up the activity of inserting images on efloraofindia pages from efloraofindia posts, pl. let us know.


 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *