Verticordia mitchelliana

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Rapier featherflower
Verticordia mitchelliana 1.jpg
V. mitchelliana in the Australian National Botanic Gardens
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. Intricata
Species:
V. mitchelliana
Binomial name
Verticordia mitchelliana

Verticordia mitchelliana, commonly known as rapier featherflower, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Verticordia mitchelliana is a spreading shrub which grows to a height of 20–75 cm (8–30 in) and about 0.2–3 m (0.7–10 ft) wide but sometimes grows as high as 1 m (3 ft). Its leaves are linear in shape, semi-circular in cross-section, 6–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and have a rounded tip. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are arranged singly or in small groups near the ends of the branches, each flower more or less hanging on a stalk 4–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. The floral cup is top-shaped but spreading near the tip, 3 mm (0.12 in) long with a small swelling under each sepal. The sepals are bright red and spreading, 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long and have 6 or 7 deeply divided, hairy lobes and two hairy, deeply divided ear-like appendages. The petals are pink, bright red, yellow or orange and are 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. They are erect, egg-shaped, have short, soft hairs on the outside and a few irregular teeth on the tip. The style is 24–27 mm (0.9–1 in) long and straight, with a few hairs near the tip. Flowering time is from October to December. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia mitchelliana was first formally described by Charles Gardner in 1933 from a specimen collected near Bencubbin and the description was published in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. [1] The specific epithet (mitchelliana) honours Sir James Mitchell who was Premier of Western Australia at the time. [2]

There are two subspecies:

When Alex George reviewed the genus Verticordia in 1991, he placed this species in subgenus Verticordia, section Intricata along with V. monadelpha , and V. pulchella . [7]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia grows in sand, usually with other species of Verticordia in heath and shrubland. It occurs in disjunct populations between Peak Charles and Kulja [2] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions. [4] [8] [9]

Conservation

Subspecies mitchelliana is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [8] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [10] Subspecies implexior is classified as "Not Threatened. [9]

Use in horticulture

Rapier featherflower has been grown in gardens since the 1970s and several forms have been developed. It grows well in a range of soils as long as they are well drained, and it is resistant to pest attack as well as drought- and frost-tolerant. It can be propagated from both seed and from cuttings. [2]

Related Research Articles

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 crebra, commonly known as Barrens featherflower, crowded featherflower or Twertup featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a sprawling shrub with crowded, cylinder-shaped leaves with small, yellow flowers that are almost hidden by the leaves but with a style which extends well beyond the petals. The plant looks superficially like a miniature pine tree.

Verticordia harveyi, commonly known as autumn featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender, spindly shrub with relatively long leaves and small white, pink or magenta-coloured flowers in late summer and autumn.

<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 pritzelii</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia pritzelii, commonly known as Pritzel's featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact, woody shrub with several main stems, small, linear to club-shaped leaves, and rounded groups of deep pink flowers from late spring to mid-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 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 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 fimbrilepis subsp. australis, commonly known as southern shy featherflower is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender 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 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.

<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.

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 pityrhops, commonly known as East Mount Barren featherflower or pine-like 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 which is densely-branched with crowded narrow linear leaves giving the impression of a miniature pine tree. When it flowers in autumn, the shrub is completely covered with masses of very small, honey-scented, pinkish-purple flowers.

<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.

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.

Verticordia wonganensis is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub which grows near Wongan Hills and has a single main stem, small leaves and spike-like groups of large, pink, feathery flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Verticordia mitchelliana". APNI. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 294–296. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 George, Alex S.; Barrett, Matthew A. (2010). "Two new taxa of Verticordia (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) from south-western Australia". Nuytsia. 20: 310–313.
  4. 1 2 3 Archer, William. "Verticordia mitchelliana". Experance Wildflowers. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "Verticordia mitchelliana subsp. mitchelliana". APNI. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  6. "Verticordia mitchelliana subsp. implexior". APNI. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  7. George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  8. 1 2 "Verticordia mitchelliana mitchelliana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  9. 1 2 "Verticordia mitchelliana implexior". 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 30 June 2016.