Barrens featherflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrens featherflower |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
crebra
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Verticordia crebra, also known as Barrens featherflower, crowded featherflower, or Twertup featherflower, is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. This plant is found only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a low-growing shrub with many leaves that look like tiny cylinders. Its small, yellow flowers are almost hidden by the leaves. But the long, curved part of the flower, called the style, sticks out far. The plant can look a bit like a miniature pine tree.
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About the Barrens Featherflower
The Barrens featherflower is a sprawling shrub with branches that spread out. It usually grows to be about 30 to 75 cm (10 to 30 in) tall. It can also spread out to be 20 to 60 cm (8 to 20 in) wide. Its leaves are packed closely together all over the plant. They are long and round, about 4–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) in length. Each leaf has a small stalk about 1.0–2.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long. This gives the plant its unique look, similar to a tiny pine tree.
Its Unique Flowers
The flowers of Verticordia crebra are spread out on the plant. They grow from the upper parts where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk, about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The flowers themselves are tiny and mostly hidden by the leaves. But the long, curved style is very noticeable. It can be 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and is covered in fine hairs. This style sticks out far beyond the flower and the leaves.
The base of the flower, called the floral cup, looks like half a sphere. It's about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and feels smooth but has many tiny hairs. The outer parts of the flower, called sepals, are pale yellow. They are about 4 mm (0.2 in) long and have 6 to 8 feathery edges. The petals are also pale yellow and shaped like small circles. They are about 3 mm (0.1 in) long with edges that are unevenly toothed. This plant usually blooms from May to October.
Naming and Discovery
The Barrens featherflower was officially described in 1991 by a scientist named Alex George. He found the first samples of this plant in the Fitzgerald River National Park. The description was then published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
What its Name Means
The second part of its scientific name, crebra, comes from a Latin word. Creber means "close," "pressed together," or "frequent." This name refers to how crowded the leaves are on the plant. Alex George placed this plant in a group with other similar featherflowers. These include the V. helichrysantha, V. plumosa, and V. harveyi.
Where it Lives
This special verticordia plant grows in rocky areas. It likes places with a type of rock called spongolite. It also grows in small patches of soil found on laterite, which is another type of rock. You can find it in low, open areas with small shrubs, known as heathland. Verticordia crebra is only found in small parts of the Fitzgerald River National Park. This park is located in the Esperance Plains and Mallee regions of Western Australia.
Protecting This Plant
The Barrens featherflower is considered a "Threatened Flora" by the Western Australian Government. This means it's a rare plant that needs protection. It's also listed as "Vulnerable" (VU) under a special Australian law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This means it faces a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
In 2011, scientists estimated there were about 7,000 adult plants. These plants were found in only four different groups. The biggest danger to Verticordia crebra is fires that happen too often. These fires can destroy the plants before they have a chance to grow and reproduce.
Growing for the Future
Even though this plant might not be the prettiest for a home garden, scientists are working hard to learn how to grow it. They want to find the best ways to grow it from seeds or cuttings. This research is important for conservation. If the wild populations are lost, these grown plants could help bring the species back.
