Verticordia mirabilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia mirabilis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
mirabilis
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Verticordia mirabilis is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant only grows in a small part of the Gibson Desert in Australia. It's a bushy shrub that spreads out. Its leaves are close together on short branches. In spring, it shows off large, deep red flowers. These flowers grow in small groups.
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What it Looks Like
Verticordia mirabilis is a bushy shrub. It usually grows to be about 30 to 60 centimeters (12-24 inches) tall. It can spread out to about 60 centimeters (24 inches) wide. Sometimes, it can even grow as tall as 1 meter (3 feet).
Its leaves are found close together on short side branches. The leaves are thin and shaped like a line. They are triangular or almost round when you look at them from the side. They are about 3 to 6.5 millimeters long. The tips of the leaves have small, uneven teeth.
The flowers grow alone or in small groups. You can find them near the ends of the branches. Each flower is about 20 to 23 millimeters (about an inch) wide. They sit on a thick stem that is 2 to 3 millimeters long. The part of the flower that holds the petals and sepals, called the floral cup, is shaped like a top. It is 4 to 5 millimeters long and smooth. It has 5 ribs and 5 large bumps near the top.
The sepals are pale pink. They are 10 to 11 millimeters long and 16 millimeters wide. They have 6 to 8 hairy parts called lobes. The sepals also have two hairy, ear-shaped parts. These parts bend over the floral cup. The petals spread out and are dark red. They are egg-shaped and sometimes have a few uneven teeth. They are 8 to 11 millimeters long. The style is the part of the flower that receives pollen. It is 16 to 20 millimeters long. It has a few hairs near its tip. This plant mainly blooms in September and October.
How it Got its Name
Elizabeth and Alex George first officially described Verticordia mirabilis in 2001. They found a sample of the plant near Warburton. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its scientific name, mirabilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "wonderful" or "strange." The scientists chose this name because they were amazed. They found a Verticordia plant so far out in the desert. It was much further than any other known plant of its kind.
This plant is part of a group called subgenus Eperephes. It is also in a smaller group called section Integripetala. Other plants in this group include V. helmsii and V. picta.
Where it Lives
This type of verticordia plant is only found in one place. It grows in a special type of soil called lateritic soil. This soil is found on a rocky hill south of Warburton. It grows alongside another plant called Verticordia jamiesonii. This area is part of the Gibson Desert biogeographic region.
Protecting This Plant
Verticordia mirabilis is listed as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government. This means it is a very special plant. It is only known to grow in one or a few places. These places could be at risk. So, it needs special protection to keep it safe.
Growing This Plant
Scientists have recently discovered this plant. They have been able to grow it from cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow into new plants. They have grown these plants in pots until they flower. However, we don't yet fully understand what this plant needs to grow well in gardens.
