Verticordia verticordina

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Verticordia verticordina
Status DECF P3.svg
Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
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. Verticordia
Section: Verticordia sect. Elachoschista
Species:
V. verticordina
Binomial name
Verticordia verticordina

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 .

Contents

Description

Verticordia verticordina is a shrub with many main stems and which grows to a height of 10–20 cm (4–8 in) and a width of 10–30 cm (4–10 in). The leaves are linear in shape, semi-circular in cross-section, 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and crowded near the ends of the branches. [2]

The flowers appear in scattered upper leaf axils on thick, erect stalks 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The floral cup is shaped like a hemisphere, about 1 mm (0.04 in) long and hairy, especially near the base. The sepals are cream-coloured, turning brown as they age, elliptic, 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, erect, with a ragged, papery, slightly hairy edge. The petals are also cream-coloured but with a dark, brownish band in the centre, egg-shaped, pointed, erect and 3 mm (0.1 in) long. The staminodes are pointed, longer than the stamens, and are a golden-brown colour. The style is about 15 mm (0.6 in) long and gently curved with a few hairs near the tip. The fleshy appearance of the leaves, almost entire margin of the sepals and the long style, distinguish this plant from other species of Verticordia and give it a superficial resemblance to Darwinia. Flowering time is from September to December. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Veticordia verticordina was first formally described in 1864 by Ferdinand von Mueller, who gave it the name Chamelaucium verticordina. The description was published in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae and the type specimen was collected by George Maxwell in what is now the Cape Le Grand National Park. [4] [5] The specific epithet (verticordina) referred to its similarity to a Verticordia. [2] In 1865, George Bentham changed the name to Darwinia verticordina. [6] [7] When Alex George reviewed the genus Verticordia in 1991, he included this species, conserving the specific epithet ("like a verticordia"). [1] [8]

George placed this species in Verticordia subg. Verticordia as the sole member of section Elachoschista. [8]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia occurs near the south coast of Western Australia between Esperance and Israelite Bay in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions where it grows near coastal granite outcrops in wet and sandy clay. It is sometimes found growing in heath with Verticordia plumosa var. grandiflora. [2] [3] [9] [10]

Conservation

Verticordia verticordina is classified as "Priority Three" [9] by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [11]

Use in horticulture

Although not having the horticultural potential of other verticordias, V. verticordina is relatively easy to propagate from cuttings and can be grown in pots or hanging baskets but does not flower prolifically. [2]

Related Research Articles

<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".

<i>Darwinia citriodora</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia citriodora, commonly known as lemon-scented darwinia or lemon scented myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with oblong to lance-shaped leaves and red, yellow and orange flowers over an extended period. It is a hardy plant in well-drained soil, is often cultivated and used as a rootstock for less hardy species.

<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>Darwinia neildiana</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia neildiana, commonly known as fringed bell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a dwarf, spreading or semi-erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.2–1 m and has leaves about 10 mm (0.39 in) long. Its are flowers very small, arranged in clusters of up to 60, surrounded by green bracts that turn red as they age, the inflorescence 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) wide. Flowering occurs between August and December. The species was first formally described by Victorian Government botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1875 in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. The specific epithet (neildiana) honours James Edward Neild. It grows among rocks in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.

<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.

Patersonia maxwellii is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming perennial herb with linear leaves and violet tepals.

<i>Darwinia micropetala</i> Species of plant

Darwinia micropetala, commonly known as small darwinia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with linear leaves, and heads of white to pink flowers.

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 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.

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 stenopetala is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low shrub with small leaves and heads of pink to magenta-coloured flowers in late spring and early summer.

<i>Thryptomene denticulata</i> Species of shrub

Thryptomene denticulata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae that is endemic to Western Australia.

<i>Homoranthus thomasii</i> Species of flowering plant

Homoranthus thomasii is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small shrub with spoon-shaped, greyish green leaves and small, pendulous, pink flowers in the upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon breviflorus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon breviflorus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly, glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to about 1.5 m. It has oblong to lance-shaped or linear leaves 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) long on a short petiole and with a small, rigid point on the tip. The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a short peduncle with small bracts and bracteoles about half as long as the sepals. The sepals are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and the petals white and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, the petal lobes longer than the petal tube.

<i>Leucopogon opponens</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon opponens is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, slender shrub with its leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and white, tube-shaped flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Verticordia verticordina". APNI. Retrieved 21 September 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. 242–243. ISBN   1-876268-46-8.
  3. 1 2 Archer, William (11 October 2011). "Verticordia verticordina". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  4. "Chamelaucium verticordina". APNI. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. v.4 1863-64. Melbourne. p. 57. Retrieved 21 September 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. "Darwinia verticordina". APNI. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  7. Bentham, George (1867). "Notes on the genera Darwinia and Bartlingia". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany. 9: 176. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1865.tb00023.x . Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394. doi:10.58828/nuy00167. S2CID   195414803.
  9. 1 2 "Verticordia verticordian". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  10. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 411. ISBN   0646402439.
  11. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 22 September 2016.