Bottlebrush

Callistemon or melaleuca? Both genera in the Myrtaceae family have brush like flowers. Callistemon flowers are usually red while melaleuca have papery bark and flowers in a range of colours including pink, white and orange. The botanical distinction is that the stamens of melaleuca are united at the base in five bunches per flower whereas callistemon stamens are free. Trouble is, they don't always conform to this distinction.

The one in the photo is a callistemon. Or is it? It's pink. I plucked a white flower from a nearby melaleuca (paper bark) and pulled apart a flower from each. Both had stamens that were free as a breeze.

Due to this confusion, and the discovery that their DNAs are closer than previously thought, there is a movement to merge the two genera. The plant breeders will be pleased because it will allow them to develop some interesting cultivars. 

To all of you who so kindly took an interest in the problem I had with my new phone apparently not supporting the Blip app, I'm pleased to advise that it solved itself after I posted yesterday. Suddenly all your photos were visible. Yay!

Thanks for hosting BikerBear. Stay well all.