Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa |
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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. h. var. stylosa
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| Trinomial name | |
| Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa (Turcz.)A.S.George
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The Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa, also known as the variegated featherflower, 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.
It is a shrub with a single stem. How it grows depends on where it lives. It looks a lot like other types of Verticordia huegelii. However, its flower color is different. Also, the shape of its style and staminodes sets it apart.
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What Does the Variegated Featherflower Look Like?
The variegated featherflower is a shrub that usually grows from 10 to 60 centimeters (4 to 24 inches) tall. If it grows in an open space, it can spread out to 60 centimeters (24 inches) wide. But if it's near other small shrubs, it might grow tall and thin.
Leaves and Flowers
Its leaves are long and thin, or shaped like a club. They are about 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. They are also about 0.5 millimeters (0.02 inches) thick.
The flowers do not have a smell. They grow in round groups at the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a small stalk, 4 to 11 millimeters (0.16 to 0.43 inches) long. The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. It is smooth and a little bit hairy.
Flower Colors and Parts
When the sepals open, they are a pale creamy-green or lemon color. As they get older, they turn orange, then a rusty-red. They are 7 to 8 millimeters (0.28 to 0.31 inches) long. They are deeply divided with spreading hairs.
The petals are similar in color to the sepals. They are mostly round and spread out. They are about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long and wide. They have a fringe of hairs around their edges.
The staminodes are shaped like a spear or an egg. They get narrower towards the tip. The tip has a few hairs. The style is straight and 5 to 5.5 millimeters (0.20 to 0.22 inches) long. It has a few hairs near its top and a cap-like stigma.
These parts are slightly smaller than those of the Verticordia huegelii var. huegelii. The staminodes are a bit wider, and the style is a bit shorter. This plant usually flowers from September to December.
How the Variegated Featherflower Got Its Name
The species was first officially described in 1847. This was done by Nikolai Turczaninow. He wrote about it in a publication called Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.
In 1991, Alex George looked closely at the whole group of Verticordia plants. He then described this plant as one of four types of Verticordia huegelii. The name stylosa refers to the plant's noticeable style.
Where the Variegated Featherflower Lives
This type of V. huegelii grows in sandy clay soil. This soil often has lateritic gravel. It likes areas that get wet in winter. It usually grows with other types of verticordia plants.
You can find it in different places between Dandaragan, Wongan Hills, and Kalgan. These areas are in several biogeographic regions of Western Australia. These include the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, and Swan Coastal Plain.
Is the Variegated Featherflower Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Verticordia huegelii var. stylosa is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
Growing the Variegated Featherflower
This plant is not grown very often by people. However, it is described as "an attractive, bushy shrub." It is usually grown from cuttings. Sometimes, these cuttings can be hard to grow.
The plant seems to be able to handle frost. It also tolerates having a few stems cut off for flower arrangements.
