Bonsai featherflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bonsai featherflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
oxylepis
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The bonsai featherflower (scientific name: Verticordia oxylepis) is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is special because it only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a small bush that often looks like it has layers, with tiny leaves and very small yellow and pink flowers.
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What Does It Look Like?
The bonsai featherflower is a small shrub. It usually grows to be about 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) tall. It can spread out quite a bit, from 10 to 45 centimeters (4 to 18 inches) wide. Its main branches often grow sideways, giving it that layered look.
Its leaves are thin and can be shaped like a club. They are about 2 to 5 millimeters (less than a quarter inch) long. If you cut one in half, it would look like a half-circle.
The Flowers
The flowers grow in round groups near the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk about 2 to 5 millimeters long. If you get close, you might notice they have a faint smell, a bit like mice!
The bottom part of the flower, called the floral cup, is shaped like half a ball. It's very small, only about 1 to 1.5 millimeters long. The sepals, which are like little leaves protecting the bud, are green and reddish. They are about 3 to 4 millimeters long and are split into many thin, feathery parts.
The petals are usually cream or yellowish. They are egg-shaped and about 2 millimeters long. As they get older, they change color to reddish or brown. The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is about 6 to 7 millimeters long. It's straight and has tiny hairs near its tip. You can usually see these pretty flowers blooming from October to January.
How It Got Its Name
The bonsai featherflower was first officially described in 1852. A scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow gave it its formal name, Verticordia oxylepis. He studied a plant sample collected by James Drummond.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, oxylepis, comes from two Ancient Greek words. "Oxys" means "sharp" or "pointed." "Lepis" means "a scale." This name probably refers to the plant's sepals, which are pointed and scale-like.
Later, in 1991, another scientist named Alex George studied many plants in the Verticordia group. He placed the bonsai featherflower into a specific subgroup called Verticordia section Infuscata.
Where It Lives
This special plant grows in sandy clay soil. You can often find it in open, rocky areas and in areas with lots of small shrubs, known as heathland. It lives in a region of Western Australia between the Gairdner River and Hopetoun. This area includes parts of the Esperance Plains, Avon Wheatbelt, and Mallee regions.
Is It Endangered?
Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Verticordia oxylepis is "Not Threatened." This means it's not currently at risk of disappearing.
Growing Bonsai Featherflower
The bonsai featherflower grows very slowly. People have learned how to grow it from both cuttings (taking a piece of the plant and growing roots) and from seeds. It's known to be a tough plant that can grow well in different types of soil, especially if it gets lots of sunshine.
