Drummond's featherflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drummond's featherflower |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
drummondii
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Drummond's featherflower (scientific name: Verticordia drummondii) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's a shrub that stands upright, with many branches. You can spot it by its small, thin leaves and lovely pink to purple flowers. These flowers grow in small bunches near the tips of its branches.
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What Does Drummond's Featherflower Look Like?
Drummond's featherflower is a shrub that usually grows about 30 cm (12 in) to 45 cm (18 in) tall. It can spread out from 30 cm (12 in) to 75 cm (30 in) wide. Sometimes, it can even reach up to 1.0 m (3.3 ft) in height!
Its leaves are narrow and shaped like an egg. They are small, only about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) to 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long. The tip of each leaf is rounded, but it has a very tiny point.
The Flowers of Drummond's Featherflower
The flowers of this plant have a nice scent. They grow in groups that look a bit like spikes. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk, about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) to 2.0 mm (0.079 in) long.
The part that holds the flower, called the floral cup, is shaped like a top. It's about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and smooth. It has five small ridges and tiny green parts.
The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the bud, are pale to bright pink. They are about 4 mm (0.16 in) to 5 mm (0.20 in) long. Each sepal has five to seven hairy sections. The petals stand upright and can be pink or white. They are about 3 mm (0.12 in) to 4 mm (0.16 in) long and are roughly circular. They have a fringe that is about 2 mm (0.079 in) to 2.3 mm (0.091 in) long.
The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is curved. It's about 5 mm (0.20 in) to 6 mm (0.24 in) long and has tiny hairs. The flowers bloom from December to April.
Where Does Drummond's Featherflower Grow?
This plant likes to grow in sandy soil. You can often find it in low-lying areas like heathlands and woodlands. Sometimes, it also grows in gravelly soil within open woodlands.
It is found near the coast, between the Moore River and Mandurah. This includes the Perth city area. It grows in several natural regions of Western Australia, such as the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, and Swan Coastal Plain.
How to Grow Drummond's Featherflower
Drummond's featherflower is quite easy to grow! You can start new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) or from seeds. It grows well in many different types of soil.
For the best results, plant it in a sunny spot. It responds well to being trimmed, which helps it grow bushier. This plant can handle dry conditions and is also quite good at surviving moderate frost. However, it can be a bit harder to grow in places like Sydney that get a lot of rain in the summer.
