Verticordia grandis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Verticordia grandis
Verticordia grandis near Eneabba, Western Australia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Verticordia Species: V. grandis
Binomial name
Verticordia grandis J.Drumm.

Verticordia grandis is a large woody shrub that occurs in Southwest Australia. The name grandis, taken from the Latin for large, is a reference to the species large size, of flowers, leaves, and height. It is also known by the common name of Scarlet Featherflower.^[1]

Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 2.1 Discovery and naming 2.2 Infrageneric placement 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Uses 5.1 Floristry 5.2 Cultivation 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Description

Verticordia grandis is a species of Verticordia, a genus within the family Myrtaceae, which are noted for their exquisite flowers. The large size and scarlet flowers of this plant distinguish from it from its near relations. These shrubs are erect and may attain a height between 0.7 and 4.0 metres, possess a lignotuber and one, or several, main stems that branch out 0.3 metres to 3.0 metres across. The shrub may be tall and erect, but is more commonly made bushy through exposure to bushfires and other disturbances, regrowing from the lignotuber of the root system.

The flowers appear in compact groups, that spike out from the upper branch, beginning as white and turning to a deeply plumose colour. The staminode extends out from the centre of the flower up to 25mm, slightly curving at the end. The petals are fused to form a tube, the sepals are feathery in appearance. Flowering may occur throughout the year, the main period beginning in August and ending in January. The flowers open successively and are up to 25 mm in diameter, these are unscented.

The leaves are 18 to 25 mm long, rounded in outine, paler at the margin, and partly clasping the stem; the floral leaves are similar to those on the lower branches. These are aromatic when crushed, a possible substitute for a floral scent. An oil is contained in prominent glands on the leaf surface.

The open branched habit of these shrubs, especially those taller and environmentally secure specimens, give a straggly appearance with fewer flowers. Regrowth from a lignotuber, or in cultivated environments, give the shrub a more compact habit that flowers profusely. Whether they are undisturbed, or exposed to bushfire etc., Verticordia grandis often attain ages around 100 years old.

[edit] Taxonomy

See also: Verticordia

[edit] Discovery and naming

The type collection for Verticordia grandis is the one obtained by James Drummond, sometime between 1849 and 1850, on his last expedition to Champion Bay. Drummond was collecting seed and specimens for the gardens of England and Europe, the colony's first resident botanical collector, and became so enthused by the appearance of the flowers that he filled his bags with them. After preparing his specimens, and having overeagerly collected, Drummond made a bed of the surplus, feathery, material. ^[2] The species was described in a letter by Drummond, written to and published by William Jackson Hooker, which was sufficient to give him credit as its author.^[3] Hookers publication of this description, in his Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany (1953), was preceded by The Perth Gazette in 1952.^[4]

[edit] Infrageneric placement

The taxonomic arrangement of this species, placed in a section of the subgenus Verticordia subg. Eperephes as Verticordia sect. Pennuligera, was published in Nuytsia; Alex George's 1991 revision of the genus.^[5] George chose this taxon, Verticordia grandis, as the type species for the section.^[1] The infrageneric placement is as follows:

Verticordia

V. subg. Chrysoma (7 sections, 21 species)

V. subg. Verticordia (11 sections, 36 species)

V. subg. Eperephes

V. sect. Integripetala (5 species)

V. sect. Tropica (3 species)

V. sect. Jamiesoniana (1 species)

V. sect. Verticordella (18 species)

V. sect. Corynatoca (1 species)

V. sect. Pennuligera

V. comosa

V. lepidophylla

V. chrysostachys

V. aereiflora

V. dichroma

V. x eurardyensis

V. muelleriana

V. argentea

V. albida

V. fragrans

V. venusta

V. forrestii

V. serotina

V. oculata

V. etheliana

V. grandis

The leaves of this section are often described as the round or lettuce-leaved species; V. grandis has stem and floral leaves that embrace the stem at their base, and spread out to their diameter of 8-15 mm. The roundish shape of the leaf is highlighted by margins that are lighter in colour.

[edit] Distribution and habitat

It occurs in yellow, grey, and white sands, especially the Geraldton Sandplains. The species is found in heathland and open scrub of the region, an association with laterite has also been identified, and is distributed south of Geraldton and to the east at Three Springs. The range extends south in the plains, between Geraldton and Perth, to a place known as Cataby. Most populations occur within 30 miles of the coastline.^[2] The species is not considered to be threatened by extinction, the root system making it tolerant of fire, disturbance, and physical damage, however, the large scale clearing of its range, for European agriculture, is presumed to have impacted on population and distribution in the Wheatbelt. An single outlier at Dalwallinu, conserved on private property by a title deed, is thought to be a remant of a wider and more eastern distribution.^[1]

[edit] Ecology

The resilient root system of the species, particularly with regard to fire and soil disturbance, allows the plant to attain ages of up to 100 years. The possession of a lignotuber, one of the few in the genus so endowed, allows the plant to regenerate within a month of a bushfire.

The pollination of Verticordia is poorly understood, although Verticordia grandis, and other red-flowered species are known to be naturally pollinated by birds such as honeyeaters. Records of the species attracted to cultivated plants, when it has been grown locally, include the Singing, Little Brown or New Holland Honeyeaters, and the Western Spinebill.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Floristry

Verticordia grandis has been admired and harvested since its first discovery by europeans, and Drummond's enthusiastic collection. The cut flower remains presentable for several weeks, a characteristic that makes it desirable for the floristry industry. Prior to the prohibition on unlicensed collection, the species was harvested by sometimes careless pickers; the industry is now supplied by professional pickers or growers.

[edit] Cultivation

The species has been successfully cultivated in a suburban environment. It is sometimes grown from seed, in mediterranean climates, or hardwood cuttings are used in grafts with more resilient species. This has been trialled with Darwinia citriodora and Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton wax) supplying the rootstock.^[6] The botanical illustrator, Margaret Pieroni, used a 10 year old specimen from her garden for the plate in Curtis's Botanical Magazine.^[2] The cultivated specimens of this plant do not attain the height of endemic examples, typically growing between 1 and 2 metres, and may be slow to establish.^[6] Pruning is applied to induce a bushy habit, desirable for neatness and blooming, and this is done severely when the plant is mature.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Information related to Verticordia grandis from Wikispecies.

• Media related to Verticordia grandis from the Wikimedia Commons.
• Verticordia grandis. FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
• Verticordia grandis. Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.