Purple beaufortia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purple beaufortia |
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| Beaufortia purpurea in the Morangup Nature Reserve near Toodyay | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Beaufortia (plant)
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| Species: |
purpurea
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| Synonyms | |
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Melaleuca purpurea (Lindl.) Craven & R.D.Edwards |
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Beaufortia purpurea, also known as purple beaufortia, is a special plant from the Myrtaceae family, which includes myrtle trees. This plant is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It grows as a shrub, either standing tall or spreading out. It has unique leaves and pretty purplish-red flowers that grow in tight bunches at the ends of its branches. Even after the flowers bloom, the branches keep growing!
Contents
What Does Purple Beaufortia Look Like?
Beaufortia purpurea is a shrub that can grow up to about 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall. It often has long, straight, and thin branches.
Its leaves are arranged in a cool way: they grow in opposite pairs, turning slightly each time. This makes them look like they are in four neat rows along the stems. Younger leaves are shaped like a spear or an egg, while older ones are more linear. The leaves are small, about 4 to 8.5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.33 inches) long, and usually have 3 or 5 veins.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the purple beaufortia are purple or purplish-red. They grow in spikes that look a bit like a bottlebrush at the tips of the branches. These branches keep growing even after the flowers have bloomed.
Each flower has 5 sepals (small leaf-like parts that protect the bud), 5 petals, and 5 groups of stamens. The stamens are the parts that give the flowers their bright color. Each group of stamens usually has 5 individual stamens joined together for about half their length.
You can see these beautiful flowers from October to December, or sometimes in January and February. After flowering, the plant produces woody capsules, which are like small seed pods. These capsules grow in clusters and are about 12 millimetres (0.47 inches) long.
How Purple Beaufortia Got Its Name
The plant Beaufortia purpurea was first officially described in 1839. An English botanist named John Lindley gave it its name in his book, "A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony."
The second part of its name, purpurea, is a Latin word. It simply means "purple," which perfectly describes the color of its flowers!
Where Does Purple Beaufortia Grow?
Beaufortia purpurea is mostly found in the outer areas of Perth, Western Australia. It grows in two main natural regions: the Jarrah Forest and the Swan Coastal Plain.
This plant prefers to grow in soils that come from laterite or granite. You can often find it on rocky slopes where these types of soils are common.
Protecting Purple Beaufortia
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps an eye on Beaufortia purpurea. They have classified it as "Priority Three".
What does "Priority Three" mean? It means that we don't know a lot about this plant, and it's only found in a few places. However, it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists continue to study and monitor it to make sure it stays safe.
Images for kids
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B. purpurea growth habit
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B. purpurea fruit
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