Verticordia chrysantha

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Yellow featherflower
Kalbarri Park (2005).jpg
V. chrysantha in Kalbarri National Park
Verticordia chrysantha - Flickr - Kevin Thiele.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Verticordia
Subgenus: Verticordia subg. Chrysoma
Section: Verticordia sect. Jugata
Species:
V. chrysantha
Binomial name
Verticordia chrysantha

Verticordia chrysantha, commonly known as yellow featherflower or yellow Morrison, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, slow-growing, rather bushy shrub with bright yellow flowers which often turn reddish-brown as they age. It is widespread in the south-west of the state.

Contents

Description

Verticordia chrysantha is a shrub which grows to a height of 0.15–1.5 m (0.5–5 ft), sometimes almost as wide and which has a single, branching stem at its base. The leaves are linear in shape, approximately circular in cross-section, 3–15 mm (0.1–0.6 in) long and have a pointed, sometimes hooked end. [1] [2]

The flowers are usually scented, arranged in a corymb-like groups on the ends of the branches, bright yellow but ageing to bronze or brown, sometimes only in the centre. The flowers are held erect on stalks 4–18 mm (0.2–0.7 in) long. The floral cup is shaped like half a sphere about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, with 10 ribs, glabrous and slightly warty. The sepals are bright yellow, 4.0–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long, with 7 or 10 densely feathery lobes. The petals are also bright yellow, egg-shaped, 3.5–5.0 mm (0.14–0.20 in) and have long, spreading finger-like lobes. The style is 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long, straight or slightly curved. Flowering time is from September to December. [1] [2]

V. chrysantha leaves and flowers Verticordia chrysantha (leaves and flowers).jpg
V. chrysantha leaves and flowers

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia chrysantha was first formally described by Stephan Endlicher in 1838 and the description was published in Stirpium Australasicarum Herbarii Hugeliani Decades Tres from specimens collected by John Gilbert in 1842. [3] The specific epithet (chrysantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words khrusos meaning "gold" [4] and anthos meaning "flower", [5] referring to the flower colour. [1]

When Alex George reviewed the genus Verticordia in 1991, he placed this species in subgenus Chrysoma, section Jugata along with V. chrysanthella , V. brevifolia , V. galeata , V. coronata , V. amphigia and V. laciniata . [6]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia grows in a wide range of soils and vegetation associations between Kalbarri in the north-west and Esperance on the south coast, although not in the far south-west corner of the state. [1] [7]

Conservation

Verticordia chrysantha is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

Use in horticulture

Verticordia chrysantha is well established in horticulture although it is generally slow growing and then needs to be replaced after 5 years. In gardens it performs best in well-drained soil in full sun and has been shown to be drought tolerant. It produces an attractive display when used in mass plantings. [1] [8] Burying seeds in soil for twelve months then treating with aerosol smoke has been shown to improve the rate of germination of seeds of V. chrysantha. [9]

Related Research Articles

Verticordia argentea is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with almost circular leaves and scented, pink and white flowers. It usually grows in sand and is found near Eneabba.

Verticordia attenuata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with a single main stem, small leaves and pink to purple flowers which fade to white as they age. It usually grows in sand in areas that are wet in winter, often amongst grasses and is found in coastal areas near Bunbury.

Verticordia aurea, commonly known as buttercups is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender, sometimes bushy shrub with a single stem at the base, cylindrical leaves and heads of scented, golden-yellow flowers in spring.

Verticordia auriculata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, multi-branched shrub with small leaves and spikes of pink to magenta-coloured flowers in late spring to early summer and it is widespread in the wheatbelt.

Verticordia bifimbriata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open shrub with small leaves and spikes of pink flowers.

Verticordia brevifolia is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with shortly cylindrical leaves and bright yellow flowers which turn red as they age. There are two subspecies, both of which have limited distributions and a priority conservation rating.

Verticordia carinata, commonly known as pea-shaped featherflower or Stirling Range featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with small, well-spaced leaves and pink and red flowers. It is a rarely seen plant, not known between its description in 1849 and its rediscovery in 1990.

<i>Verticordia subulata</i> Species of shrub

Verticordia subulata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a woody shrub with pointed, linear leaves and in spring, heads of yellow flowers which turn red as they age.

<i>Verticordia galeata</i> Species of shrub

Verticordia galeata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a woody shrub with thin, pointed cylinder-shaped leaves and heads of bright yellow flowers on the ends of the branches in spring.

<i>Verticordia fastigiata</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia fastigiata, commonly known as mouse featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate or low shrub with small, club-shaped leaves and mouse-scented flowers which vary in colour from golden-yellow and orange to dark red.

<i>Verticordia chrysanthella</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia chrysanthella, commonly known as little chrysantha, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with cylinder-shaped leaves and small groups of lemon-yellow to gold-coloured flowers which fade to orange, red or brown.

<i>Verticordia chrysostachys</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia chrysostachys is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open-branched shrub with egg-shaped to almost circular leaves, and spike-like groups of cream-coloured or deep yellow flowers.

Verticordia comosa is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an openly branched shrub with small, broad, almost round leaves and spikes of flowers that are pale yellow, sometimes with a white or pale pink centre.

Verticordia coronata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with leaves whose shape depends on their position on the plant, and groups of yellow flowers near the ends of the branches.

Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with small leaves and pink, or pink and white flowers. It is one of five varieties of the species Verticordia densiflora.

<i>Verticordia drummondii</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia drummondii, commonly known as Drummond's featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, openly to densely branched shrub with small, narrow leaves and pink to purple flowers in small heads near the ends of the branches.

<i>Verticordia grandiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia grandiflora, commonly known as claw featherflower, clawed featherflower or horned featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, rigid shrub with many short side-branches, mostly linear leaves and heads of yellow flowers which soon age to reddish but which are among the largest in the genus. It is similar in appearance to several other species of verticordias with which it is often confused.

<i>Verticordia laciniata</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia laciniata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an openly branched shrub with linear, slightly hairy leaves and heads of scented, bright yellow flowers which turn red then bronze-coloured as they age.

<i>Verticordia lindleyi</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia lindleyi is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is sometimes an openly branched shrub, other times more or less dense, with small leaves and spreading, spike-like groups of pink or purple flowers along the stems in summer, sometimes also in autumn.

Verticordia vicinella is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with narrow leaves and groups of small, scented, pink or pale yellow flowers, growing near Esperance and in the Cape Arid National Park.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 137–138. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  2. 1 2 Archer, William. "Verticordia chrysantha". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Verticordia chrysantha". APNI. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Moore, Bruce, ed. (2002). The Australian Oxford Dictionary (1999 ed.). South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. p. 243. ISBN   0195507932.
  5. ↑ Moore, Bruce, ed. (2002). The Australian Oxford Dictionary (1999 ed.). South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. p. 51. ISBN   0195507932.
  6. ↑ George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  7. 1 2 "Verticordia chrysantha". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. ↑ "Yellow Feather Flower Verticordia chrysantha" (PDF). Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Jefferson, Lara Vanessa; Pennacchio, Marcello; Havens-Young, Kayri (2014). Ecology of plant-derived smoke : its use in seed germination. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press. p. 202. ISBN   9780199755936.
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