Beaufortia schaueri
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2024}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Pink bottlebrush
|image = Beaufortia schaueri (leaves, flowers, fruits).JPG
|image_caption =
|genus = Beaufortia (plant)
|species = schaueri
|authority = Schauer{{cite web |title=Beaufortia schaueri |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/113421|website=Australian Plant Census |access-date=5 October 2020}}
|synonyms =
- Beaufortia schaueri var. atrorubens Benth.
- Beaufortia schaueri Preiss ex Schauer var. schaueri
- Melaleuca jonesii Craven & R.D.Edwards
}}
File:Beaufortia schaueri (habit).JPG]]
Beaufortia schaueri, commonly known as pink bottlebrush or pink beaufortia, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a small, rounded shrub with small, crowded, linear leaves and profuse, spherical heads of pink flowers conspicuously displayed on the ends of the branches in spring.
Description
Beaufortia schaueri is a small, compact shrub which grows to a height of about {{convert|1.5|m|ft|sigfig=1}}. The leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that they make four rows along the stems. The leaves are about {{convert|10|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long, linear in shape, overlap each other and are triangular to almost circular in cross section.{{cite web|title=Beaufortia schaueri|url=http://anpsa.org.au/b-sch.html|publisher=Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)|accessdate=24 August 2015}}{{cite web|title=Beaufortia schaueri |url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5391|publisher=FloraBase|accessdate=24 August 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Archer|first1=William|title=Beaufortia schaueri - Pink Bottlebrush|url=http://esperancewildflowers.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/beaufortia-schaueri-pink-bottlebrush.html|publisher=Esperance Wildflowers|accessdate=24 August 2015}}
The flowers are bright pink to mauve and are arranged in almost spherical heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. There are usually 5 stamens in a bundle and they are joined for about half their length. Flowering occurs from September to December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules.{{cite book|last1=Corrick|first1=Margaret G.|last2=Fuhrer|first2=Bruce A.|title=Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia|date=2009|publisher=Rosenberg Pub.|location=Kenthurst, N.S.W.|isbn=9781877058844|page=113|edition=3rd}}
Taxonomy
Beaufortia schaueri was first formally described in 1843 by Johannes Conrad Schauer in {{lang|la|Dissertatio phytographica de Regelia, Beaufortia et Calothamno}} from an unpublished description by Balthazar Preiss.{{cite web|title=Beaufortia schaueri|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/748757|publisher=APNI|accessdate=24 August 2015}} The specific epithet (schaueri) honours Schauer.{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=302 |edition=3rd}}
Distribution and habitat
Beaufortia schaueri occurs mainly between the Albany and Israelite Bay districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. It usually grows in sandy soils or those derived from laterite on plains and slopes.{{cite book|last1=Paczkowska|first1=Grazyna|last2=Chapman|first2=Alex R.|title=The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue|date=2000|publisher=Wildflower Society of Western Australia|location=Perth|isbn=0646402439|page=349}}
Conservation
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15396115}}
Category:Plants described in 1843