Verticordia staminosa

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Verticordia staminosa
Verticordia staminosa subsp. cylindracea var. erecta.jpg
V. staminosa subsp. cylindracea var. erecta leaves and flowers
Status DECF R.svg
Declared rare  (DEC)
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. Synandra
Species:
V. staminosa
Binomial name
Verticordia staminosa

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.

Contents

Description

Verticordia staminosa is a shrub which sometimes grows to a height of 20–60 cm (8–20 in) or 30–100 cm (10–40 in) depending on subspecies. The branches are bristly and the leaves are linear to cylindrical in shape, glabrous and 7–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long. [1]

The flowers are arranged in the upper leaf axils on a stalk 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long. The floral cup is hemispherical, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, warty but glabrous. The sepals are feathery, spreading, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, lemon-yellow at first but later turn reddish. The petals are about the same colour and length as the sepals but erect and divided into feathery, finger-like lobes. The stamens and staminodes are joined to form a tube at their lower end and the stamens are 6–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long alternating with much shorter staminodes. The style is 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long, straight and glabrous. Flowering time is usually from July to October. [1]

V. staminosa subsp. cylindracea var. erecta growing in Kings Park, Perth Verticordia staminosa subsp. cylindracea var. erecta (habit).jpg
V. staminosa subsp. cylindracea var. erecta growing in Kings Park, Perth

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia staminosa was first formally described by Charles Gardner and Alex George in 1963 from a specimen collected near Wongan Hills by Harry Butler and the description was published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. [2] The specific epithet (staminosa) refers to the prominent stamens. [1]

When Alex George reviewed the genus Verticordia in 1991, he placed this species in subgenus Chrysoma, the only species in section Synandra. [3]

George described three forms of this species:

Distribution and habitat

Verticordia staminosa grows in soil in crevices on exposed granite outcrops. Subspecies staminosa is only known from a single locality in the Wongan Hills, [7] variety cylindracea between Newdegate and Pingaring [8] and variety erecta in a small area north-west of Newdegate. [1] [9]

Verticordia staminosa is commonly known as Wongan verticordia and is only known from about 1200 plants. Relatively large numbers of seedling establish each year and its rarity is thought to be a result of climate change and increased frequency of fire. [10]

Conservation

All three forms of V. staminosa are classified as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [7] [8] [9] meaning that they are in danger of extinction. [11]

Horticulture

Verticordia staminosa can be readily propagated from cuttings, but these are often slow-growing in the first year. [1]

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.

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

Verticordia huegelii, 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 sometimes an erect shrub, sometimes sprawling to almost prostrate. It has linear leaves and very feathery flowers in spring. The flowers are usually cream-coloured or white, becoming pinkish and reddish or maroon as the flowers age, giving a variegated appearance to the display.

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

Verticordia plumosa, commonly known as plumed featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was the first species in the genus to be described, although initially given the name Chamelaucium plumosum. It is a shrub with linear leaves and rounded groups of scented pink, mauve or white flowers. Two varieties of this species have been declared as being "threatened".

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 habrantha</i> Species of flowering plant

Verticordia habrantha, commonly known as hidden 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 short, leafy side-branches and long flowering stems with rounded heads of mostly white flowers. Its hairy sepals are mostly hidden by the round, unfringed petals, and as a result, the plant looks like shrubs in the genus Chamelaucium, to which it is closely related.

<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.

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 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.

<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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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. 172–177. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  2. "Verticordia staminosa". APNI. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  3. George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  4. "Verticordia staminosa subsp. staminosa". APNI. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  5. "Verticordia staminosa var. cylindracea". APNI. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  6. "Verticordia staminosa var. erecta". APNI. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Verticordia staminosa subsp. staminosa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. 1 2 "Verticordia staminosa var. erecta". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  9. 1 2 "Verticordia staminosa var. cylindracea". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  10. Yates, Colin J.; Ladd, Philip G.; Coates, David J.; McArthur, Shelley (2007). "Hierarchies of cause: understanding rarity in an endemic shrub Verticordia staminosa (Myrtaceae) with a highly restricted distribution". Australian Journal of Botany. 55 (3): 194. doi:10.1071/BT06032.
  11. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 4 April 2022.