Beaufortia (plant) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beaufortia (plant)
B. orbifolia growing near Ravensthorpe
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Subfamily:	Myrtoideae
Tribe:	Melaleuceae
Genus:	Beaufortia R.Br.
Synonyms
Beaufortia sect. Eubeaufortia Schauer nom. inval. Beaufortia sect. Eubeaufortia Schauer nom. inval. Beaufortia sect. Eubeaufortia Schauer nom. inval. Beaufortia sect. Schizopleura Lindl. Beaufortiae Lindl. orth. var. Beaufortiae sect. Schizopleura Lindl. orth. var. Schizopleura (Lindl.) Endl.

Beaufortia is a group of amazing plants, including shrubs and small trees. They are part of the Myrtaceae family, which also includes plants like eucalyptus. You can only find Beaufortia plants in the south-west part of Western Australia. This means they are endemic there, growing naturally nowhere else in the world! Beaufortia is related to other plants like Melaleuca (also known as bottlebrushes). They are different mainly in how their pollen is released from the flowers.

What Do Beaufortia Plants Look Like?

Beaufortia plants are usually evergreen shrubs. This means they keep their leaves all year round. Their leaves are very small and have a nice smell. They are often arranged opposite each other on the stem. The tallest Beaufortia plants can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall.

Flowers and Colors

Most Beaufortia plants have both male and bisexual flowers on the same plant. This is called andromonoecious. The flowers grow in groups that look like spikes or heads. Each flower has five small, triangular parts called sepals. It also has five petals, which can be white, yellow, red, pink, or purple. These petals often fall off quickly.

The most striking part of the flower is its stamens. These are the parts that hold the pollen. They are usually bright red or deep pink. The stamens are arranged in five bundles and stick out far beyond the petals. This is what gives the Beaufortia flowers their beautiful, brush-like appearance and their vibrant color! Unlike some related plants, Beaufortia anthers (the tips of the stamens) are attached at their base and open with two curved slits to release pollen.

When Do They Bloom?

Beaufortia plants can flower throughout the year. However, they bloom most often between late spring and autumn. After flowering, they produce a dry fruit called a capsule. This capsule has three parts, and each part holds a winged seed.

Beaufortia's Name and History

The first official description of the Beaufortia group was written in 1812. It was done by a botanist named Robert Brown. He wrote about it in a book called Hortus Kewensis. The very first species named was Beaufortia decussata.

Who Was Beaufortia Named After?

The genus Beaufortia was named after an English noblewoman, Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort. She lived a long time ago, from 1630 to 1715. She loved plants and had a wonderful botanical garden at her home in Badminton, England.

Plant Family Connections

Some plant experts have thought that Beaufortia should actually be part of the Melaleuca group. This is because they are very similar. However, most plant collections and experts still keep Beaufortia as its own separate group of plants.

Where Do Beaufortia Plants Grow?

All Beaufortia species grow in the South West Botanical Province of Australia. About half of them also grow in a drier area called the Eremaean province. You can often find Beaufortia plants in sandy areas and in heathlands. One species, Beaufortia sparsa, likes wet places like marshes and is known as the swamp bottlebrush.

How Beaufortia Plants Live and Reproduce

Most Beaufortia plants are serotinous. This is a cool way they survive! It means their seeds are only released from their fruits after a bushfire. The heat from the fire helps the fruits open up. Some species that live in areas with frequent fires have a special woody swelling at their base called a lignotuber. This helps them grow back new shoots after a fire.

Pollinators

Birds like honeyeaters and a tiny marsupial called the honey possum are thought to be the main animals that help Beaufortia flowers make seeds. They visit the flowers to drink nectar and carry pollen from one flower to another. Many different kinds of insects have also been seen on Beaufortia flowers, helping with pollination too!

Protecting Beaufortia Plants

Some Beaufortia species are common and easy to find. However, a few, like Beaufortia bicolor, are quite rare. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife lists them as "Priority Three". This means they are not well-known and only found in a few places. They are not in immediate danger, but they are being watched to make sure they stay safe.

Growing Beaufortia in Gardens

Beaufortia plants can be a great addition to a garden, especially if you live in Australia. However, they can be tricky to grow outside of Western Australia. They need lots of sunshine and soil that drains water very well. They also like to grow in soil that has limestone.

One trick to help them grow better is to graft them. This means joining a piece of a Beaufortia plant onto the roots of another plant, like Kunzea ambigua. This can make them stronger and more likely to survive in different conditions.

List of Beaufortia Species

Here is a list of the 22 different types of Beaufortia plants. These are recognized by plant experts in Australia as of March 2020:

See also

In Spanish: Beaufortia para niños