Verticordia paludosa facts for kids

Verticordia paludosa is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This plant is special because it is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's a shrub that grows with open branches. It has small leaves and pretty pink to magenta flowers. These flowers have feathery parts called sepals and upright, fringed petals. You can see it bloom in summer and autumn.

What Verticordia paludosa Looks Like

Verticordia paludosa is a shrub that usually has one main stem and a few branches coming off it. It can grow to be about 30 to 90 centimeters (12 to 35 inches) tall. It also spreads out, becoming 10 to 90 centimeters (4 to 35 inches) wide.

Its leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg. They are about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters (0.10 to 0.14 inches) long. The top surface of the leaves is slightly curved like a dish, and they are covered with short, soft hairs.

The flowers of this plant have a lovely scent. They grow in groups that look like spikes. Each flower sits on a small stalk that is about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) long. Before a flower opens, it is protected by two small, fringed leaves called bracteoles.

The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is shaped like a top and is about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long. It has five ridges and is smooth, without hairs. The sepals, which are like small leaves under the petals, are about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. They are pink to magenta and have 6 to 7 feathery parts.

The petals are the same color as the sepals and are about 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) long. They stand upright and are egg-shaped. They also have a fringe that is an extra 1.5 to 2 millimeters (0.06 to 0.08 inches) long. The style, which is part of the flower's reproductive system, is about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long. It is curved and has hairs near its tip. This plant flowers from December to May.

How Verticordia paludosa Got Its Name

The plant Verticordia paludosa was officially described for the first time in 1991. This was done by a scientist named Alex George. His description was published in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its name, paludosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "marshy" or "swampy." This name was chosen because this plant is often found growing in wet, marshy areas.

Where Verticordia paludosa Lives

This type of verticordia plant grows in sandy soil and loam. It likes areas that get very wet during the winter months. You can also find it in sandy loam on ridges, growing among shrubs and trees.

It lives in specific areas of Western Australia. These include places between Mogumber, Gillingarra, Regans Ford, and the Moore River National Park. These areas are part of the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, and Swan Coastal Plain regions.

Protecting Verticordia paludosa

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Verticordia paludosa a special classification. It is called "Priority Four" flora.

This means that the plant is considered rare or almost threatened. It is important to protect these plants so they can continue to grow in the wild.

Growing Verticordia paludosa at Home

People can try to grow Verticordia paludosa from cuttings. However, these cuttings can be slow to start growing roots. The plants that do grow from them also grow very slowly.

This plant seems to be strong and resistant to diseases. But if the weather is hot and dry, it needs to be watered regularly to stay healthy.