Family: Myrtaceae

Beaufortia sparsa (swamp bottlebrush, gravel bottlebrush) is an evergreen shrub native to Western Australia. It is a pleasant feature in gardens as well as having use as a cut flower. It also can be used for erosion control or as a bird nesting plant. This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date.

High Risk Traits:

• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Possibly self-compatible
  
• Dispersed by water, and intentionally by people (after serotinous capsules open following fire)
  
• Resprouts after fire

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Reaches maturity in 3 ½+ years
  
• Serotinous capsules retain seeds until affected by fire; may limit ability to spread as long as fires are prevented or suppressed