Southern shy featherflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia fimbrilepis subsp. australis |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Verticordia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
V. f. subsp. australis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Verticordia fimbrilepis subsp. australis A.S.George
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The southern shy featherflower (scientific name: Verticordia fimbrilepis subsp. australis) is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. It is a thin shrub with a main stem that branches out. It has small, pointed leaves and pretty pink flowers that grow in round groups at the ends of its branches.
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Discovering the Southern Shy Featherflower
The southern shy featherflower is a thin shrub that can grow up to about 40 cm (20 in) tall. It has one main stem that spreads out into many branches near the ground. The leaves lower down on the stems are thin and round-ish. They are about 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and have a sharp point at the end. Leaves closer to the flowers are more oval or narrow egg-shaped.
Flower Details
The flowers grow in open groups on stalks that are 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. These stalks are found near the ends of the branches. Each flower has a cup-shaped base, which is about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and feels a bit rough.
The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are bright pink or purple. They are about 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and have 5 to 7 fuzzy parts. The petals are the same color as the sepals, sometimes with a white bottom. They are about 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.12 in) long and have long, rough hairs. The flowers bloom from October to December.
How it Got its Name
The plant Verticordia fimbrilepis was first officially described by a scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow in 1847. Later, in 1991, another scientist, Alex George, studied the Verticordia group of plants. He described two types (subspecies) of V. fimbrilepis, including this one.
Meaning of "Australis"
The name australis comes from a Latin word that means "southern." This name was chosen because this type of featherflower grows further south compared to the other subspecies. The first samples of this plant were collected near the Kent River in 1985 by George and his team.
Where it Grows
This special featherflower grows in soil that is a mix of clay and loam, often on rocky slopes made of granite. It likes to grow in areas with heath, which is a type of shrubland. You can only find this plant in small areas near the towns of Denmark and Albany in Western Australia. These areas are part of the Warren and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.
Protecting This Plant
The southern shy featherflower is a very important plant that needs our help. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed it as "Threatened." This means it is at risk of disappearing forever or is very rare.
The Australian Government also lists it as "Endangered" (VU) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This shows how important it is to protect this unique plant so it can continue to grow in the wild.
Growing Southern Shy Featherflower
People started growing this type of V. fimbrilepis from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) in 1991. Since then, it has been grown in raised garden beds and in pots. Even though its flowers might not be super flashy, their pink color is still very pretty. It seems this plant has not been grown much in the eastern parts of Australia.
