Beaufortia bicolor
| Beaufortia bicolor | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Beaufortia |
| Species: | B. bicolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Beaufortia bicolor Strid | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Melaleuca variegata Craven & R.D.Edwards | |
Beaufortia bicolor is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a densely branched shrub with rough, peeling bark, elliptical, upward pointing leaves and heads of red, orange and yellow flowers in November or December. It has been classified as a "poorly known" species.
Description
Beaufortia bicolor is a densely branched shrub which grows to a height of about 1 metre (3 ft). The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs (decussate) so that they make four rows along the stems. The leaves are 2.8–4 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long, 1.2–1.9 millimetres (0.05–0.07 in) long and are bird-winged in cross section.[1][2]
The flowers are red, orange and yellow and are arranged in dense heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. Interspersed between the flowers are tufts of white hairs. The flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. The stamens, which give the flowers their colour, are joined for about half their length, with about 5 separate filament extending beyond the joined part. Flowering occurs in November or December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules, arranged in small clusters around the stem.[1][2]
Taxonomy and naming
Beaufortia bicolor was first formally described in 1987 by the Swedish botanist, Arne Strid in Plant Systematics and Evolution from a specimen found near Badgingarra.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Beaufortia bicolor occurs between Perth and Geraldton in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions.[2] It grows on sandplains in white sand over laterite.[4]
Conservation
Beaufortia bicolor is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife[2] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[5]
References
- 1 2 Strid, Arne (1987). "New species of Beaufortia and Chamaelaucium (Myrtaceae), Drosera (Droseraceae) and Pultenaea (Fabaceae) from SW. Australia". Plant Systematics and Evolution 155: 338–342. doi:10.1007/BF00936310.
- 1 2 3 4 "Beaufortia bicolor". FloraBase. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ↑ "Beaufortia bicolor". APNI. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 349. ISBN 0646402439.
- ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 18 August 2015.