Column beaufortia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Column beaufortia |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Beaufortia (plant)
|
| Species: |
burbidgeae
|
Beaufortia burbidgeae, also known as column beaufortia, is a special plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant only grows naturally in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a type of bush with lots of thin, needle-like leaves. Its flowers are usually red, or a mix of red and green. You can see them blooming from spring to early summer.
Contents
What is Column Beaufortia?
Column beaufortia is a type of shrub or bush. It can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Sometimes, it spreads out to be 2 meters wide. Its leaves are thin and pointy, like needles. They are about 6 to 10 millimeters long. These leaves grow very close together on the plant's woody stems.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the column beaufortia grow in bunches. You can find them at the ends of branches. They also grow on short side branches. Each flower has five sepals and five petals. It also has five groups of stamens. Stamens are the parts of a flower that make pollen.
The stamen groups are bright red at their bottom parts. They become pale green or pink at the tips. These parts are about 5 to 18 millimeters long. They also have tiny hairs on their inside surface. Each group has 3 to 5 stamens. The free ends of these stamens are another 2.5 to 6 millimeters long.
Column beaufortia flowers mostly in spring and early summer. But you might see some flowers from August to May. After the flowers, the plant grows fruit. These fruits are woody capsules. They are 3 to 10 millimeters long and 7 to 12 millimeters wide. Sometimes, these fruit capsules grow in clusters.
How Column Beaufortia Got Its Name
The plant Beaufortia burbidgeae was officially named in 2016. It was named by a scientist named Andrew A. Burbidge. He wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its name, "burbidgeae," is special. It honors Nancy Tyson Burbidge. She was a famous botanist, a scientist who studies plants. She was also the aunt of Andrew A. Burbidge.
Where Column Beaufortia Lives
Column beaufortia grows in specific places in Western Australia. It likes to grow on hills. You can often find it in or near a type of soil called laterite. This plant grows in areas with heath and woodland. Sometimes, it can also be found in sandy soil.
You can find this plant between the towns of Brookton and Corrigin. It also grows near the Boolanelling Nature Reserve. These areas are part of the Avon Wheatbelt region.
Protecting Column Beaufortia
The Western Australian Government wants to protect Beaufortia burbidgeae. Their Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a special status. It is called "Priority Three".
This means that we don't know a lot about this plant yet. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists are still learning about it to make sure it stays safe.
