Beaufortia micrantha

Beaufortia micrantha, commonly known as small-leaved beaufortia or little bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact shrub with tiny leaves pressed against the stems and profuse heads of purple or pinkish-coloured flowers.

Beaufortia micrantha
Beaufortia micrantha growing near Hopetoun
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Beaufortia
Species:
B. micrantha
Binomial name
Beaufortia micrantha
Synonyms

Melaleuca micrantha (Schauer) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Beaufortia micrantha is a small, compact shrub which grows to a height of about 0.5 metres (2 ft). The leaves are triangular in shape with the end tapering to a point, 1–2 millimetres (0.04–0.08 in) long and have their upper surfaces pressed against the stems, sometimes overlapping each other. The leaves of Beaufortia empetrifolia are similar in size and shape but are not pressed against the stems to the same extent.[1][2][3]

The flowers are usually pinkish-red to purple and are arranged in heads about 10 millimetres (0.4 in) in diameter, 15 millimetres (0.6 in) long on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. The stamen bundles have 3 to 5 stamens each, are 6–10 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long with the free parts a further 5–10 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long. Flowering occurs in most months but mainly from September to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.4 in) long, 6–10 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) wide and closely packed together.[1][2][3][4]

Beaufortia micrantha leaves and fruits
Beaufortia micrantha var. micrantha

Taxonomy and naming

Beaufortia micrantha was first formally described in 1843 by Johannes Conrad Schauer in Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno.[5] The specific epithet (micrantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós) meaning "small"[6]:488 and ἄνθος (ánthos) meaning "flower".[6]:338

Distribution and habitat

Beaufortia micrantha mainly occurs in and between the Esperance, Albany, Corrigin and Southern Cross districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions.[3] It usually grows in sandy soils derived from laterite on plains and ridges.[7]

Conservation

Beaufortia micrantha is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]

References
  1. Archer, William. "Beaufortia micrantha var. micrantha – Small Bottlebrush". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  2. Burbidge, Andrew A. (2016). "A taxonomic revision of Beaufortia (Myrtaceae: Melaleuceae)". Nuytsia. 27: 189–190.
  3. "Beaufortia micrantha". FloraBase. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  4. Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Pub. p. 113. ISBN 9781877058844.
  5. "Beaufortia micrantha". APNI. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora: a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 349. ISBN 0646402439.
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