Verticordia attenuata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia attenuata |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
attenuata
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Verticordia attenuata is a beautiful 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 shrub, which means it's a bushy plant with many branches. It has one main stem, small leaves, and pretty pink to purple flowers. These flowers change to white as they get older. You can usually find it growing in sandy areas that get wet in winter. It often grows among grasses, especially near the coast around Bunbury.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Verticordia attenuata is an upright, open shrub. It grows from a single stem at its base. This plant can reach a height of about 0.8 to 1 meter (2.6 to 3.3 feet). It can also spread out to be 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) wide.
Its leaves are small, shaped like an oval or a narrow egg. They are about 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) long. The edges of the leaves have a few short hairs.
The Flowers of Verticordia attenuata
The flowers grow in groups that look like spikes. Each flower has a small stalk, about 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.06 to 0.10 inches) long. The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is shaped like a top. It's about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long and has 5 rounded bumps.
The sepals are about 3.5 millimeters (0.14 inches) long. They have 7 or 8 parts with hairy edges. The petals are pink and about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. They are narrower at the tip and have a fringe only at the very end. The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is about 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) long and hairy. This plant usually flowers from December to April.
How This Plant Got Its Name
Naming and Classification
The plant was first officially described by a scientist named Alex George in 1991. He published his description in a journal called Nuytsia. He studied samples of the plant collected near Ludlow, which is close to Busselton.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, attenuata, comes from a Latin word. Attenuatus means "thin" or "narrowed." This name refers to the shape of the plant's petals.
Alex George placed this species in a group called subgenus Eperephes. He also put it in a section called Verticordella.
Where This Plant Grows
Distribution and Habitat
This type of verticordia plant likes to grow in white to grey sand. It is often found in areas that get wet during winter. You can also see it in Eucalyptus woodlands. It sometimes grows alongside weedy grasses.
You can find Verticordia attenuata in the areas between Bunbury and Busselton. This region is part of the Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia.
Protecting Verticordia attenuata
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Verticordia attenuata a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Three."
This means that scientists don't know a lot about this plant yet. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
Growing Verticordia attenuata in Gardens
Use in Horticulture
When grown by people, Verticordia attenuata is a strong and attractive shrub. It could be a good choice for large rock gardens or for growing in pots.
People usually grow new plants from cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow roots. This plant grows well in sandy or gravelly soils that drain water easily. It likes to be in full sun or partial shade. Older plants can handle moderate frost and don't need a lot of water once they are established.
