Hollyhock verticordia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hollyhock verticordia |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
fragrans
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Verticordia fragrans, also known as the hollyhock verticordia, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which is the same family as myrtle trees. This special plant only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a shrub that spreads out, with pretty pink and white flowers that smell sweet. You can usually see these flowers in spring and early summer.
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What Does Hollyhock Verticordia Look Like?
The hollyhock verticordia is a shrub that can grow from about 0.45–3 m (1–10 ft) tall. It can also spread out to be 0.45–1 m (1–3 ft) wide. This plant has a single stem that branches out openly from its base.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are thin and shaped like an egg, or sometimes more oval or almost round. They are about 1.5–4 mm (0.06–0.2 in) long.
The flowers have a lovely sweet smell. They grow in groups that look like spreading spikes. Each flower sits on a small stalk, about 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are usually pink, but sometimes white. They are about 3.5–4 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long and have 6 to 9 white, feathery parts.
The petals stand upright and can be deep pink, pale pink, or rarely white. They are about 4.0–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long and 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. They have a few short hairs around their edges. The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. It curves near the top and has a few hairs near its tip. You can see these flowers blooming from October to December.
How Was Hollyhock Verticordia Named?
The hollyhock verticordia was first officially described in 1991. A scientist named Alex George wrote about it after studying plants collected near Eneabba. His description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The plant's scientific name, fragrans, comes from the Latin word fragrantia. This word means "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling," which perfectly describes its flowers! Alex George placed this species in a group called Pennuligera.
Where Does Hollyhock Verticordia Grow?
This type of verticordia plant likes to grow in sandy soil. Sometimes the sand is mixed with clay, loam, or even sandstone. It often grows alongside other verticordia species. You can find it in woodland or shrubland areas. It is mainly found near Eneabba and Coomallo. These areas are part of the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region, which is a specific natural area in Western Australia.
Protecting Hollyhock Verticordia
Verticordia fragrans is currently listed as "Priority Three". This means that scientists don't know a lot about it yet. It's only found in a few places, but it's not in immediate danger of disappearing. However, it's still important to keep an eye on it and protect its habitat.
Growing Hollyhock Verticordia in Your Garden
This plant is one of the easier verticordias to grow in a garden. Its sweet-smelling flowers make it a very attractive plant. If you remove the older flowers, new ones will keep appearing for a long time!
Gardeners usually grow new plants from cuttings. It grows well in full sun or in a spot with some shade. This plant can handle both dry weather and frost. It has even grown well in places like Sydney, near the sea, and further inland in Western Australia.
