Verticordia minutiflora

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Verticordia minutiflora
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. Verticordia
Section: Verticordia sect. Micrantha
Species:
V. minutiflora
Binomial name
Verticordia minutiflora

Verticordia minutiflora is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with small, crowded, cylindrical leaves and groups of white to pale pink flowers in summer and autumn. As suggested by its botanical name, it has the smallest flowers of any verticordia.

Contents

Description

Verticordia minutiflora is a bushy shrub which grows to a height of 20–90 cm (8–40 in) and about 90 cm (40 in) wide. Its leaves are crowded, linear in shape, almost circular in cross-section, 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long and have a blunt end. [2]

The flowers are scented and arranged in corymb-like groups on the ends of the branches, each flower on a stalk 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long. The floral cup is top-shaped, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and has a few short, soft hairs. The sepals are white to pale pink, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long with 2 or 3 hairy lobes. The petals are the same colour as the sepals, oblong to egg-shaped and 1.5–2.0 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long. The style is 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and straight or slightly curved and hairy. Flowering time is mainly from January to June. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia minutiflora was first formally described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1864 from a specimen collected by George Maxwell "at the western end of the Great Australian Bight" and the description was published in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae . [1] [3] The specific epithet (minutiflora) is derived from the Latin minutus meaning 'minute' and -florus, '-flowered', referring to the small flowers of this species. [2]

In his review of the genus in 1991, Alex George placed this species in subgenus Verticordia, section Micrantha along with V. fastigiata and V. vicinella . [4]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia is found from near Esperance to Cape Arid and inland as far as Mount Burdett [2] in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. [5] [6] It is common near Esperance and is sometimes the dominant shrub, favouring areas near granite outcrops in gravelly soil. [7]

Conservation

Verticordia minutiflora is classified as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [5]

Use in horticulture

Although described as "unspectacular", V.minutiflora is a hardy shrub with neat foliage. It is readily propagated from cuttings and can be grown in a range of soils. [2]

Related Research Articles

Verticordia verticordina is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area near the coast of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, low-growing shrub with crowded leaves and in spring, scattered pale greenish-cream and golden brown flowers. Its unusual flowers and fleshy leaves give the plant a superficial resemblance to a Darwinia.

<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>Lasiopetalum maxwellii</i> Species of shrub

Lasiopetalum maxwellii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south coast Western Australia. It is a sprawling shrub with hairy young stems, lance-shaped to oblong leaves and white to cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Calothamnus pinifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

Calothamnus pinifolius, commonly known as dense clawflower, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with dense foliage and clusters of red flowers, partly immersed in the prickly foliage, between July and January.

<i>Beaufortia orbifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Beaufortia orbifolia, commonly known as Ravensthorpe bottlebrush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with round, dished leaves crowded on the younger stems, and bright red flower spikes. It is found in laterite hills near Ravensthorpe. It is distinguished from other beaufortias by having green stamen bundles with the free ends red.

<i>Phymatocarpus maxwellii</i> Species of flowering plant

Phymatocarpus maxwellii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It resembles many small species of Melaleuca, mainly differing in the way its anthers are attached at the top of the stamens. In Phymatocarpus they are attached at their base and open at the other end through two slits. It is a shrub with many small heads of pink to purple flowers, often covering the plant for several weeks in October.

Verticordia hughanii, commonly known as Hughan's featherflower, 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 spreading, oblong leaves and spike-like groups of bright red flowers near the ends of the branches. It is a rare plant, only known from three small populations and currently meets the requirements of the World Conservation Union Red List Category "Endangered".

Verticordia lepidophylla is a 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.

<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 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.

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

Verticordia penicillaris is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, widely spreading shrub, usually with several main branches. It is readily distinguished from other verticordias by its yellow flowers with white fringes and purple hairs on the end of their long styles.

Verticordia pholidophylla 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 branch at the base and many side branches with overlapping yellowish leaves and greenish-white to cream, cup-shaped, feathery flowers.

Verticordia polytricha, commonly known as northern cauliflower, 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 linear leaves and dense heads of white flowers in late spring and summer.

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.

<i>Pityrodia chrysocalyx</i> Species of flowering plant

Pityrodia chrysocalyx is a flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with small, glossy leaves, and flowers with white petals and a golden-yellow calyx.

Thryptomene elliottii is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to southern central Australia. It is a shrub with decussate, egg-shaped to club-shaped leaves and pink or white flowers with five petals and five stamens.

Thryptomene johnsonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with rigid branches, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and pink flowers with five petals and usually eight stamens.

<i>Daviesia abnormis</i> Species of flowering plant

Daviesia abnormis is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, hairy shrub with sharply-pointed, narrow elliptic to narrow egg-shaped phyllodes with the narrower end towards the base, and yellow flowers with faint red markings.

<i>Kennedia beckxiana</i> Species of legume

Kennedia beckxiana, commonly known as Cape Arid kennedia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate or twining shrub or a climber with trifoliate leaves and red and yellow, pea-like flowers.

<i>Lasiopetalum parvuliflorum</i> Species of shrub

Lasiopetalum parvuliflorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, spreading shrub with hairy stems, oblong to linear leaves and green or cream-coloured flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Verticordia minutiflora". APNI. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. 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. 234–235. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  3. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne. p. 58. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. George, A.S. (1991) New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae). Nuytsia 7(3): 254
  5. 1 2 "Verticordia minutiflora". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 409. ISBN   0646402439.
  7. Archer, William. "Verticordia minutiflora". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 30 June 2016.