Callistemon viminalis

Common names: Tall bottle-brush 串錢柳

General Description

Leaf

Size:	8 x 0.7 cm
Leaf stalk	absent, the leaf twisted, vertically at the base.
Leaves are alternate simple, linear.
Apex and base is acute, margin entire, as with C. rigidus.   When the leaves are held against the light and viewed with a x10 lens, yellow gland dots are seen – in C. rigidus leaves, these are large and few, in C. viminalis are smaller and very numerous.   In both cases the odour of the crushed leaves are reminiscent of eucalyptus, C. rigidus has the stronger smell.   Leaves of C. viminalis are thinner and lack the swollen margins of C. rigidus.

Flower

Length of calyx	0.3 cm
Length of sepal	0.4 cm
Length of petal	0.8 cm
Length of stamen	2.5 cm
Flowering period	April
Flowers similar to those of C. rigidus but the spikes not se dense.   Calyx greenish, hairy, five free sepals surmounting the floral tube.   There are 5 Petals, borne at the rim of the floral tube and falling early, greenish in colour. Numerous, red, stamens united at the base.   Ovary inferior, three-Celled with numerous ovules, topped by a slender, simple red style.

Fruit

Length of fruit	0.5 to 0.8 cm across
A woody capsule, opening at the top.   The lack of old capsules on the stem suggests that they are either seldom formed or fall early.

Trunk

It has thick longitudinally cracked bark, not thinly flaking.

Additional information

pH value of the soil	6
Remarks	An introduced Australian tree, of very different habit to the stiff bottle-brush; the branches lax, flexible and drooping, the inflorescences hanging down rather than held rigidly erect.   Prefers a sheltered sunny position. Purely an ornamental tree, suitable for parks and gardens.