Chamelaucium, also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs endemic

Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

 to south western

Southwest Australia

Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...

 Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

. They belong to the myrtle family Myrtaceae

Myrtaceae

The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...

 and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees (Leptospermum

Leptospermum

Leptospermum is a genus of about 80-86 species of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the south of the continent; but one species extends to New Zealand, another to Malaysia, and L. recurvum is endemic to Malaysia.They...

). The most well-known species is the Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium uncinatum

Chamelaucium uncinatum

Geraldton wax is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub 0.5 to 4m high, bearing white or pink flowers June-November. The name uncinatum means "hooked" in Latin, in reference to the tips of the leaves....

, which is cultivated widely for its large attractive flowers.

Taxonomy

The genus was first defined by French botanist René Louiche Desfontaines

René Louiche Desfontaines

René Louiche Desfontaines was a French botanist.Desfontaines was born near Tremblay in Brittany. He attended the Collège de Rennes and in 1773 went to Paris to study medicine. His interest in botany originated from lectures at the Jardin des Plantes given by Louis Guillaume Lemonnier...

 in 1819. The derivation of the name is unclear. They are commonly known as waxplants, or wax flowers from the waxy feel of the petals. Fourteen species are currently recognised within the genus. It gives its name to a number of closely related genera, collectively known as the Chamelaucium alliance within the family Myrtaceae; larger members include Verticordia

Verticordia

Verticordia, a genus of the Myrtaceae family, are woody shrubs with small and exquisite flowers. They are mostly found in Southwest Australia, with several outlier species in northern regions. A revision of the genus in 1991 produced a classification within Verticordia of 3 subgenera, 24 sections,...

, Calytrix

Calytrix

Calytrix is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. They are commonly known as Starflowers.Calytrix are endemic to Australia, occurring in all of its states.Species include:...

, Darwinia

Darwinia (plant)

Darwinia is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia. The majority are native to southern Western Australia, but a few species occur in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The genus was named in honour of...

, Micromyrtus

Micromyrtus

Micromyrtus is a genus of shrubs, in the family Myrtaceae, which are endemic to Australia.Species include:*Micromyrtus albicans A.R.Bean*Micromyrtus barbata J.W.Green*Micromyrtus blakelyi J.W.Green*Micromyrtus capricornia A.R.Bean...

, Thryptomene

Thryptomene

Thryptomene is a genus of small shrubs in the family Myrtaceae which are native to Australia.Species include:*Thryptomene appressa C.R.P.Andrews*Thryptomene aspera E.Pritz. *Thryptomene australis Endl. - Hook-leaf Thryptomene...

and Baeckea

Baeckea

Baeckea is a genus of 75 species of shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. They are found in Australia, New Caledonia and Southeast Asia with Australia having the largest distribution.They are small shrubs closely resembling Leptospermum....

.

Description

Plants of the genus Chamelaucium are woody evergreen shrubs ranging from 15 cm (6 in) to 3 m (10 ft) high. The leaves are tiny to medium-sized and arranged oppositely on the stems. They contain oil glands and are aromatic, often giving off a pleasant aroma when crushed. The flowers are small and have five petals, ten stamens, and are followed by small hardened fruit.

Distribution and habitat

Restricted to the southwest of Western Australia, Chamelaucium species grow most commonly in heathland communities growing on sand near the coast or inland, and in granite outcrops. Some grow in more semi arid climates.

Cultivation

In cultivation, they do well in dryer climates with good drainage and sunny aspect. They are hardy to frost and drought, although sensitive to Phytophthora cinnamomi

Phytophthora cinnamomi

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...

. The best known and most widely cultivated member of the genus by far is C. uncinatum

Chamelaucium uncinatum

Geraldton wax is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub 0.5 to 4m high, bearing white or pink flowers June-November. The name uncinatum means "hooked" in Latin, in reference to the tips of the leaves....

, which is widely grown in gardens across southern Australia, and for the cut flower indistry in the USA and Israel.