Verticordia verticillata
Encyclopedia
Verticordia verticillata is a shrub or small tree occurring in the north of Western Australia
and extending into the Northern Territory
. The species is named for verticillatus, the Latin term for whorled, for the leaf arrangement that distinguishes it from its cogenor, Verticordia cunninghamii
. It is also known by the common name of Tropical (or Whorled-leaved) Featherflower.
Growing from 2 to 6 metres high, the plants may be 1 or 2 metres across, the shrub or tree is openly branched; exposure to fire may induce several large stems to emerge from the lignotuber
. The flowers are creamy and cream or white, sweetly scented, and arranged in spreading, rounded groups. The leaves on the stems are similar to those on the floral branches, they are linear, with entire margins, are 6 – 25 mm long, and may be cylindrical or angled in profile.
Widespread distribution in the Kimberley and Northern regions, it also occurs on offshore islands. The species is usually associated with areas of seasonal flooding and watercourses, or along creeks, and has a preference for loam or gravel at exposed sandstone, growing in the white, or grey, or red sands there.
The species is classified as being in the section
, Verticordia sect. Tropica
, along with two other outlying species of the otherwise West Australian
genus; Verticordia cunninghamii
and Verticordia decussata
. V. cunninghamii and this species, while very similar in appearance, can be distinguished by their leaves; this species lack the distinct scented oil glands and they are whorled in their arrangement. The flowers also differentiate these tropical species, Verticordia verticillata has larger ones, the petals are spread, and have more prominent styles.
A number of early collections of this species were made, however the type collection was made by Clyde Dunlop in October 1973.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and extending into the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. The species is named for verticillatus, the Latin term for whorled, for the leaf arrangement that distinguishes it from its cogenor, Verticordia cunninghamii
Verticordia cunninghamii
Verticordia cunninghamii is a large shrub or small tree occurring in the north of Western Australia and extending into the Northern Territory. The species is named for Allan Cunningham, who gathered the type collection at Roe River in the Kimberley region on the 14 December 1820...
. It is also known by the common name of Tropical (or Whorled-leaved) Featherflower.
Growing from 2 to 6 metres high, the plants may be 1 or 2 metres across, the shrub or tree is openly branched; exposure to fire may induce several large stems to emerge from the lignotuber
Lignotuber
A lignotuber is a starchy swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem by fire. The crown contains buds from which new stems may sprout, and a sufficient store of nutrients to support a period of growth in the absence of...
. The flowers are creamy and cream or white, sweetly scented, and arranged in spreading, rounded groups. The leaves on the stems are similar to those on the floral branches, they are linear, with entire margins, are 6 – 25 mm long, and may be cylindrical or angled in profile.
Widespread distribution in the Kimberley and Northern regions, it also occurs on offshore islands. The species is usually associated with areas of seasonal flooding and watercourses, or along creeks, and has a preference for loam or gravel at exposed sandstone, growing in the white, or grey, or red sands there.
The species is classified as being in the section
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
, Verticordia sect. Tropica
Verticordia sect. Tropica
Verticordia sect. Tropica is a section of Verticordia that describes three species; outliers in the distribution range of the genus...
, along with two other outlying species of the otherwise West Australian
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
genus; Verticordia cunninghamii
Verticordia cunninghamii
Verticordia cunninghamii is a large shrub or small tree occurring in the north of Western Australia and extending into the Northern Territory. The species is named for Allan Cunningham, who gathered the type collection at Roe River in the Kimberley region on the 14 December 1820...
and Verticordia decussata
Verticordia decussata
Verticordia decussata is a shrub that is endemic to the Northern Territory.The description of the species was first published in Austrobaileya in 1977.The shrub is able to regrow after bushfire....
. V. cunninghamii and this species, while very similar in appearance, can be distinguished by their leaves; this species lack the distinct scented oil glands and they are whorled in their arrangement. The flowers also differentiate these tropical species, Verticordia verticillata has larger ones, the petals are spread, and have more prominent styles.
A number of early collections of this species were made, however the type collection was made by Clyde Dunlop in October 1973.