Verticordia albida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia albida |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
albida
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Verticordia albida is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the myrtle family, known as Myrtaceae. This special plant is only found in the southwest part of Western Australia. It grows as a bush with one main stem and many branches. Its flowers are white and feathery, often with a pink center, and they have a lovely scent. They grow in groups that look like spikes.
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What Does Verticordia albida Look Like?
Verticordia albida is a type of bush that can grow to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall and 0.6 to 2 meters (2 to 7 feet) wide. It has a single main stem that branches out a lot.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are shaped like an oval, slightly curved like a dish. They are about 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.1 inches) wide, and they don't have a stalk.
The flowers are very fragrant and grow in thick, spike-like clusters. Each flower is white with a pink center and has a small stalk about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. The sepals (the leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud) are about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and have 10 to 13 feathery parts. The petals are 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long and have a fringe about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long. The style (the part of the flower that receives pollen) is about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and curves near the top, with a few tiny hairs. You can usually see these flowers blooming from November to January.
How Was Verticordia albida Named?
The plant Verticordia albida was officially described for the first time in 1991 by a scientist named Alex George. He found specimens (samples) of the plant near a place called Three Springs. The description was then published in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
The name albida comes from a Latin word, albidus, which means "whitish." This name was chosen because of the white color of the sepals and petals of the flower.
Where Does Verticordia albida Grow?
This type of verticordia plant grows in sandy soil, often where there is gravel underneath. It can be found alongside other verticordia plants in woodlands or shrublands. It grows in a small area near Three Springs, within the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains regions of Western Australia.
Is Verticordia albida Protected?
Yes, Verticordia albida is considered a "Threatened Flora" by the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife. This means it's a rare plant that needs protection. There's even a special plan to help it recover and survive.
It is also listed as "Endangered" (EN) under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This shows how important it is to protect this unique plant.
How Is Verticordia albida Grown by People?
It can be tricky to grow Verticordia albida from cuttings (small pieces of the plant). However, people have had success by grafting it onto another plant called Chamelaucium uncinatum. This means attaching a piece of Verticordia albida to the root system of the Geraldton waxflower.
Scientists have also successfully grown this plant using Tissue culture at Kings Park, Western Australia. This method involves growing plant cells in a special lab environment to create new plants.
