Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia |
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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: | |
| Varietas: |
V. e. var. angustifolia
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| Trinomial name | |
| Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia A.S.George
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The Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This special plant only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a small, upright shrub with thin leaves and lovely golden-yellow flowers. These flowers smell sweet and keep their bright color as they get older.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia is a small shrub that stands upright. It usually grows to be about 20–50 cm (8–20 in) tall and 10–50 cm (4–20 in) wide. It can have one or a few main stems growing from its base.
Its leaves, both on the stems and near the flowers, are long and narrow, like tiny lines. They are usually about 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
Its Sweet-Smelling Flowers
The flowers of this plant have a wonderful sweet smell. They grow in round or cluster-like groups on straight stalks that are 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long. The part of the flower that holds the petals and sepals, called the floral cup, is wide and shaped like a top. It's about 0.9–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) long, has ridges, and is smooth (without hairs).
The sepals are golden-yellow and stay that color as they age. They are about 3–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and have 6 to 8 fuzzy parts. The petals are the same golden color as the sepals. They are 2.5–4.0 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and have long, pointy, finger-like shapes. The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is 1.5–2.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long, straight, and smooth. You can see these beautiful flowers blooming from August to November.
How Was It Named?
The plant Verticordia endlicheriana was first officially described by a scientist named Johannes Conrad Schauer in 1844. This description was published in a book called Plantae Preissianae by Lehmann.
Later, in 1991, another scientist named Alex George looked closely at all the plants in the genus Verticordia. He described five different types, or varieties, of Verticordia endlicheriana, including this one. The name "angustifolia" comes from a Latin word that means "narrow-leaved." This name was chosen because the leaves near the flowers are narrower compared to other varieties of this plant.
Where Does It Grow?
This special variety of Verticordia grows in cracks and spaces between large granite rocks. You can find it in areas with heathland plants near places like Mount Barker, Mount Roe, and Mount Lindesay. These areas are part of the Jarrah Forest region in Western Australia.
Is It Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Verticordia endlicheriana var. angustifolia a special classification: "Priority Three." This means that not much is known about this plant, and it's only found in a few places. However, it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
Can People Grow It?
Because of its interesting pine-like leaves and bright, sweet-smelling flowers, people have tried to grow this plant in gardens. Some have successfully grown it for up to 4 years! It's usually grown from cuttings, which are small pieces of the plant. However, these cuttings can sometimes take a long time to grow into strong, established plants. They tend to grow best in sandy soil or sandy gravel. They don't do well in very hot weather.
