Verticordia pulchella facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verticordia pulchella |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verticordia
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| Species: |
pulchella
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Verticordia pulchella is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is special because it is found only in one place: the south-west part of Western Australia. It grows as a bushy shrub with many branches. It has short, thin leaves and pretty, feathery flowers that can be red, or a mix of red and yellow. These flowers bloom in spring and early summer and have long, thin parts called styles.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Verticordia pulchella is a shrub that has many branches spreading out. It usually grows to be about 15–40 cm (6–20 in) tall and 20–60 cm (8–20 in) wide. Its leaves feel a bit rough. They are shaped like lines, about 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) long, and look mostly round if you cut them in half.
Discovering Its Beautiful Flowers
The flowers of Verticordia pulchella grow in round clusters at the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a small stem about 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The part that holds the flower, called the floral cup, is shaped like a top. It's about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, a bit hairy, and rough near its bottom.
The sepals are like small leaves under the petals. They are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and spread out. They are usually bright red, but sometimes they can be white. Many long hairs grow around their edges. The petals are a deep pink color, but sometimes they can be yellow or creamy white. They are 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and stand upright. They are shaped like an egg or almost round, with short hairs around their edges. The style, which is a long part of the flower, is 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. It curves a little and has some tiny hairs near its tip. This plant usually blooms from October to December.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The plant Verticordia pulchella was officially described for the first time by a scientist named Alex George in 1991. He published his description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia. The second part of its name, pulchella, comes from a Latin word. It means "pretty" or "rather pretty," which perfectly describes how lovely this plant looks.
How Scientists Classify This Plant
Alex George placed this plant into a specific group within the Verticordia family. It belongs to a subgenus called Verticordia and a section called Intricata. Other plants in this same group include V. monadelpha and V. mitchelliana. Scientists group plants like this to understand how they are related to each other.
Where Does This Plant Live?
This type of verticordia plant likes to grow in sandy soil. Sometimes the soil also has loam (a mix of sand, silt, and clay) or even clay. It is found in areas with heath and shrubland. You can find it near a place called Narrembeen. This area is part of the Avon Wheatbelt and Coolgardie biogeographic regions in Western Australia.
Is This Plant in Danger?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Verticordia pulchella a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Two." This means that not much is known about this plant, and it has only been found in one or a few locations. Because it's not very common, scientists want to keep an eye on it to make sure it stays safe.
Can You Grow It in Your Garden?
It has been quite tricky to grow Verticordia pulchella in gardens. People have tried to grow it from cuttings (small pieces of the plant), but it's hard for them to take root and grow well. Some people have managed to grow it from seeds, but even then, the plants often don't survive for more than a few months. This shows that it's a delicate plant that needs very specific conditions to thrive.
