Verticordia lindleyi

Last updated

Verticordia lindleyi
Verticordia lindleyi.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. Eperephes
Section: Verticordia sect. Verticordella
Species:
V. lindleyi
Binomial name
Verticordia lindleyi

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.

Contents

Description

Verticordia lindleyi is a shrub which grows to a height of 1 m (3 ft) usually with one main stem, either openly or densely branched. Its leaves are egg-shaped to elliptic, slightly dished, 1.5–5 mm (0.06–0.2 in) long and covered with short hairs. [2]

The flowers are lightly scented and are arranged along the stems in spike-like groups, each flower on a spreading stalk 1–4 mm (0.04–0.2 in) long. The floral cup is a top-shaped, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, 5-ribbed and glabrous with rounded green appendages about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. The sepals are pink or purple, occasionally white, 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, with 5 to 7 hairy lobes. The petals are a similar colour to the sepals, egg-shaped, 2.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and sometimes have a few small teeth on the end. The style is 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, S-shaped and hairy. Flowering time is from November to February, or sometimes as late as May. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia lindleyi was first formally described by Johannes Schauer in 1841 from a specimen collected by James Drummond near the Swan River, and the description was published in Monographia Myrtacearum Xerocarpicarum. [1] [3] The specific epithet (lindleyi) honours the botanist John Lindley. [2]

Alex George undertook a review of the genus Verticordia in 1991 and described two subspecies: [4]

George placed this species in subgenus Integripetala, section Verticordella along with V. pennigera , V. halophila , V. blepharophylla , V. carinata , V. attenuata , V. drummondii , V. wonganensis , V. paludosa , V. luteola , V. bifimbriata , V. tumida , V. mitodes , V. centipeda , V. auriculata , V. pholidophylla , V. spicata and V. hughanii . [4]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia grows in sandy soil, usually over clay or gravel in areas that are wet in winter, sometimes in open woodland or shrubland. It occurs from near Mogumber north of Perth, south and east to the Stirling Range National Park [2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. [7] [8]

Conservation

Subspecies lindleyi is classified as "Priority Four" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [7] meaning that is rare or near threatened, [9] while subspecies purpurea is classified as "Not Threatened". [8]

Use in horticulture

Both subspecies of Verticordia lindleyi are well established in gardens. When grown in well-drained soil in a sunny position, they have developed into shrubs which both drought and frost tolerant as well as resistant to fungal diseases. They have been grown from both cuttings and from seed. [2] A project of the Western Australian Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority has successfully translocated clones of different specimens of V. lindleyi subsp. lindleyi in a reconstructed wetland at Perth Airport. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

Verticordia insignis 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, irregularly-branched shrub with small leaves and heads of relatively large pink, or white and pink flowers on the ends of the branches in spring.

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 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.

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

Verticordia pennigera, commonly known as native tea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a small erect or prostrate shrub with small leaves and lightly-scented spikes of pale pink to magenta-coloured flowers in spring.

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

Verticordia halophila, commonly known as salt-loving featherflower, or salt-loving verticordia, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with small, crowded, thick leaves and spikes of red and pink flowers in spring.

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

Verticordia spicata, commonly known as spiked featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a dense, bushy shrub with small leaves pressed against the stem and spikes of pink flowers from late spring to early summer.

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

Verticordia staminosa is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub comprising two subspecies, one of which has two varieties. All three types have a limited distribution and have been classified as "Threatened". It is distinguished from other species of verticordia by its prominent, long stamens which extend well beyond its feathery yellow sepals and petals.

Verticordia dasystylis 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 many stems at its base, oblong leaves and scented, fluffy, yellow and white flowers. There are three subspecies, each of which has a priority conservation status.

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

Verticordia dichroma is a 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.

<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.

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

Verticordia fimbrilepis, commonly known as shy featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, bushy shrub with one openly branched main stem at its base, small, pointed leaves and rounded groups of pink flowers near the ends of the branches.

<i>Verticordia fimbrilepis <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> fimbrilepis</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Verticordia fimbrilepis subsp. fimbrilepis is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small bushy shrub with one openly branched main stem at its base, small, pointed leaves and rounded groups of pink flowers near the ends of the branches.

Verticordia luteola is a flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a more or less openly branched shrub with crowded leaves on its side branches and spikes of pale yellow or bright pink flowers which turn cream to brownish as they age. This verticordia is a summer-flowering species.

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

Verticordia mitchelliana, commonly known as rapier 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 bright red, rapier-like flowers in spring and early summer, which readily distinguish it from other species. It is commonly grown in private gardens and some forms have larger flowers than those usually found in the wild.

Verticordia mitodes 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, highly-branched main stem, small leaves and small spikes of magenta-coloured flowers in late spring.

Verticordia muelleriana 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 relatively large, egg-shaped to circular leaves and long spikes of deep maroon coloured flowers in spring and early summer.

Verticordia multiflora is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, openly branched shrub with small leaves and groups of scented, bright yellow flowers on the ends of the branches in spring or early summer.

Verticordia paludosa 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 leaves and pink to magenta flowers with spreading, feathery sepals and erect, fringed petals in summer and autumn.

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

Verticordia roei, commonly known as Roe's 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 narrow leaves and is often covered with masses of creamy-white coloured flowers in late spring.

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

Verticordia tumida, commonly known as summer featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is an open shrub with very small leaves and clusters of deep pink flowers from late spring to early winter.

References

  1. 1 2 "Verticordia lindleyi". APNI. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 322–326. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  3. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1857). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae (Vol. 1, No. 10). Melbourne. p. 228. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  5. "Verticordia lindleyi subsp. lindleyi". APNI. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. "Verticordia lindleyi subsp. purpurea". APNI. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Verticordia lindleyi lindleyi". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. 1 2 "Verticordia lindleyi purpurea". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  9. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. "Verticordia translocation". Western Australian Government Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Retrieved 28 June 2016.