Beaufortia orbifolia #5

Beaufortia orbifolia #5

Beaufortia orbifolia – Ravensthorpe Bottlebrush

This lovely flower is a native to Western Australia, named after the Duchess of Beaufort and the orbifolia bit from the Latin which refers to the rounded shape of the leaves.

“This is a small genus of approx. 19 species which occur naturally in the SW. The genus is closely related to the more familiar Melaleuca, both having stamens which are joined into clusters. The difference is in the arrangement of the anthers (the pollen bearing structures of the flowers). In Beaufortia they are attachjed to the stamens at their bases, whereas in Melaleuca they are attached along their sides.
It is a spreading or erect shrub from 1.5 – 3 metres high with rounded foliage about 5mm in diameter, the red and green flowers appear in late winter and spring.”
Info: asgap.org.au

Found in Kings Park in Perth WA
Camera: Olympus FE240 compact