Verticordia integra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plastic verticordia

Priority Four — Rare Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Verticordia
Subgenus: Verticordia subg. Chrysoma
Section: Verticordia sect. Sigalantha
Species:
V. integra
Binomial name
Verticordia integra

Verticordia integra, commonly known as plastic verticordia,[2] is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with only a few branches, with very thick oblong to egg-shaped leaves and heads of shiny golden-coloured flowers in late spring.

Description[]

Verticordia integra is an open, sparsely-branched shrub which grows to 30–75 cm (10–30 in) high and 20–50 cm (8–20 in) wide. Its leaves are oblong to egg-shaped, 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) long and have a round end but with a short point at the tip. Leaves near the flowers are similar in shape but shorter.[2]

The flowers are usually scented and are arranged in rounded, corymb-like groups on the ends of the branches on erect stalks 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long with the lower flowers having longer stalks. The floral cup is a flattened hemisphere, less than 1.0 mm (0.04 in) long, rough and glabrous. The sepals are gold-coloured, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, widely spreading and have 4 to 6 lobes which have long, spreading hairs. The petals are shiny gold-coloured, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and erect, egg-shaped to almost round and dished with a smooth edge. The style is straight or slightly curved, about 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and glabrous. Flowering mostly occurs from October to November.[2]

Taxonomy and naming[]

Verticordia integra was first formally described by Alex George in 1991 and the description was published in Nuytsia from specimens found near Newdegate by Alex and Elizabeth George.[1][3]

The specific epithet (integra) is derived from the Latin word integer meaning "untouched" or "unhurt"[4] referring to the entire or smooth-edged petals.[2]

When George reviewed the genus in 1991, he placed this species in subgenus Chrysoma, section Sigalantha along with V. serrata.[3]

Distribution and habitat[]

This verticordia usually grows in association with other species of verticordia in sand with lateritic gravel, loam or clay in heath. It mainly occurs in the area between , Lake Magenta , Lake King and Ravensthorpe in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.[5][6]

Conservation[]

Verticordia integra is classified as "Priority Four" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife,[5] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[7]

Use in horticulture[]

This verticordia has been difficult to propagate and establish in the garden but when successful produces a bushier plant than wild specimens. It has been propagated from cuttings but establishing them in the garden has been difficult.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Verticordia integra". APNI. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 162–163. ISBN 1-876268-46-8.
  3. ^ a b George, Alex (1991). "New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 7 (3): 231–394.
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles. "integer". A Latin Dictionary. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Verticordia integra". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 408. ISBN 0646402439.
  7. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
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