Verticordia dichroma

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Verticordia dichroma
Verticordia dichroma image 02.jpg
In the ABG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Verticordia
Subgenus: Verticordia subg. Eperephes
Section: Verticordia sect. Pennuligera
Species:
V. dichroma
Binomial name
Verticordia dichroma
Flower buds Verticordia dichroma image 03.jpg
Flower buds

Verticordia dichroma is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a much-branched shrub with rounded leaves and spikes of scented, deep red and golden-coloured flowers.

Contents

Description

Verticordia dichroma is a shrub which grows to a height of 0.3–2 m (1–7 ft) and which has one to a number of stems at its base. The leaves are egg-shaped to almost round, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and often have irregularly toothed margins. [2]

The flowers are scented and arranged in spike-like groups on erect stems 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long and the flowers open at about the same time as each other. The floral cup is top-shaped, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, has 5 ribs and is glabrous and smooth. The sepals are deep red in colour, or deep red with yellow, 4–5.6 mm (0.16–0.22 in) long, with 10 to 12 feathery lobes. The petals are golden-yellow with red spots, egg-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) wide with a fringe 1.5–2.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long and with deeply-divided, ear-shaped appendages. The style is about 6 mm (0.2 in) long, bent and has long hairs on its sides. Flowering time is from late October to December. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia dichroma was first formally described by Alex George in 1991 and the description was published in Nuytsia . The type collection was made by Alex and Elizabeth George "west of [the] North West Coastal Highway, north of No.8 Tank" which is 62 km (40 mi) north of the Kalbarri turnoff. [3] [4] The specific epithet (dichroma) "is from the Greek di- (two-) and chroma (colour), in reference to the flowers which are bicoloured when they open." [2] [4]

In the same paper, George described two varieties and the names have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census: [4]

George placed this species in subgenus Eperephes, section Pennuligera along with V. comosa , V. lepidophylla , V. chrysostachys , V. aereiflora , V. x eurardyensis , V. muelleriana , V. argentea , V. albida , V. fragrans , V. venusta , V. forrestii , V. serotina , V. oculata , V. etheliana and V. grandis . [4]

Distribution and habitat

Both varieties grow in deep sand, often with other verticordias, in heath and shrubland.

Conservation

Both varieties of V. dichroma are classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [7] [9] meaning that they are poorly known and known from only a few locations but are not under imminent threat. [10]

Use in horticulture

Both varieties of V. dichroma are worthy of cultivation in gardens due to their spectacular flowers. They are difficult to propagate from cuttings but once established are hardy plants. They are more difficult to grow in eastern Australia. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Verticordia aereiflora is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a thin but bushy shrub with small leaves and greenish-yellow flowers with red spots and red fringes on the sepals.

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

Verticordia capillaris is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with a single stem at the base, small leaves and creamy white or occasionally pink flowers in dense corymb-like groups. It is common in small areas near Geraldton.

<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 chrysostachys</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia chrysostachys is a species of 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.

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

Verticordia densiflora, commonly known as compacted featherflower, 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, usually small pink and white flowers and which is widespread in the south-west of the state. It is a variable species and in his 1991 paper, Alex George formally described five varieties.

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

Verticordia endlicheriana 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 yellow flowers which in some varieties age to red. It is a variable species and in his 1991 paper, Alex George formally described five varieties.

Verticordia endlicheriana var. endlicherliana is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, compact shrub with mostly narrow leaves and golden-yellow flowers which age to reddish brown.

Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, upright shrub with narrow leaves and sweetly-perfumed, golden-yellow flowers which do not change colour as they age.

Verticordia endlicheriana var. major is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, compact shrub with lightly-scented, lemon-yellow flowers which do not change colour as they age.

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

Verticordia etheliana is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with one highly branched main stem, egg-shaped to almost round leaves and spike-like groups of bright red flowers with greenish-cream centres.

Verticordia etheliana var. etheliana is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with one highly branched main stem, egg-shaped to almost round leaves and spike-like groups of bright red flowers with greenish-cream centres. It differs from V. etheliana var. formosa in having longer leaves, and larger flowers.

Verticordia etheliana var. formosa is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact shrub similar to var. etheliana but with smaller leaves and flowers.

<i>Verticordia huegelii <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> decumbens</i> Variety of flowering plant

Verticordia huegelii var. decumbens, commonly known as variegated featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an almost prostrate shrub, with creamish-lemon coloured flowers turning pink then red as they age, giving the plant a variegated appearance. It is similar to Verticordia huegelii var. huegelii but has a lignotuber and a lower growth habit.

Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa, commonly known as variegated featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a single-stemmed shrub with its growth form depending on its surroundings. It is similar to other varieties of the species but differs in its flower colour and the form of the style and staminodes.

Verticordia huegelii var. tridens, commonly known as variegated featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender, open, sometimes straggly shrub with bright yellow flowers which age to red and then brown and differently-shaped staminodes from the other varieties of the species.

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

Verticordia lepidophylla is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a bushy shrub with small leaves and spikes of creamish-green to yellow flowers in spikes along the branches in late spring to early summer.

Verticordia serotina is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped leaves and bright pink flowers with long, curved styles in spring.

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

Verticordia serrata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spindly or openly branched shrub with hairy, egg-shaped leaves and flowers which are golden at first, then fade to a greyish colour.

Verticordia sieberi is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with one main stem, often compact but sometimes openly branched and with pink to pale purple flowers in summer and autumn.

<i>Verticordia <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> eurardyensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia × eurardyensis, commonly known as Eurardy magenta, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub similar to both Verticordia dichroma and Verticordia spicata which grow in the same area and is thought to be a stable hybrid between those two species. It has mostly egg-shaped leaves and spike-like groups of dark magenta-coloured flowers which fade to straw-coloured, in late spring and early summer.

References

  1. ↑ "Verticordia dichroma". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 374–377. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  3. ↑ "Verticordia dichroma". APNI. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  5. ↑ "Verticordia dichroma subsp. dichroma". APC. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Verticordia dichroma subsp. syntoma". APC. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Verticordia dichroma dichroma". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. 1 2 Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 406. ISBN   0646402439.
  9. 1 2 "Verticordia dichroma syntoma". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  10. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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