Verticordia polytricha

Verticordia polytricha, commonly known as northern cauliflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with linear leaves and dense heads of white flowers in late spring and summer.

Northern cauliflower

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

Description

Verticordia polytricha is a shrub with a single stem at its base but which is densely branched and bushy. It grows to a height of 0.7–1.8 m (2–6 ft) and 0.6–1.0 cm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. Its leaves are linear in shape, semi-circular or triangular in cross-section, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long and those near the ends of the branches are crowded.[2]

The flowers are scented and arranged in dense, corymb-like groups near the ends of the branches, each flower on a stalk about 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The floral cup is hemispherical, 1.0–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long and hairy on the upper half. The sepals are creamish-white, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long and have a fringe of long hairs. The petals are the same colour as the sepals, spreading at first, erect later, 1.0–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long and hairy on the outside. The style is 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long, gently curved and hairy near the purple-coloured tip. Flowering time is from late September to February.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Verticordia polytricha was first formally described by George Bentham in 1859 from a specimen collected by Augustus Oldfield and the description was published in Flora Australiensis.[1][3] The specific epithet (polytricha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words poly meaning "many"[4]:564 and thrix meaning "hair"[4]:392 referring to the hairs on the sepals.[2]

In his review of the genus in 1991, Alex George placed this species in subgenus Verticordia, section Corymbiformis along with V. densiflora, V. brownii, V. eriocephala and V. capillaris.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This verticordia occurs between Binnu and Kalbarri and nearby areas in the Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Yalgoo biogeographic regions where it grows in sand, usually over sandstone in heath and shrubland.[2][6][7]

Ecology

A native bee, Euryglossa evansi has been observed visiting flowers of this verticordia.[8]

Conservation

Verticordia polytricha is classified as "Priority Four" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife,[6] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[9]

Use in horticulture

Northern cauliflower is a hardy and reliable shrub in gardens and is readily propagated from cuttings but can also be grown from seed. It has been grown successfully in full sun in a range of soils and has flowered within 18 months of seed germination.[2]

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References
  1. "Verticordia polytricha". APNI. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  2. Elizabeth A. (Berndt) George; Margaret Pieroni (illustrator) (2002). Verticordia: the turner of hearts (1st ed.). Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. pp. 214–215. ISBN 1-876268-46-8.
  3. Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1867). Flora Australiensis (Volume 3). London: Lovell Reeve and Co. p. 25.
  4. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  5. George, A.S. (1991) New taxa, combinations and typifications in Verticordia (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae). Nuytsia 7(3): 254
  6. "Verticordia pholidophylla". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 410. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. Groom, Philip K.; Lamont, Byron B. (2014). Plant Life of Southwestern Australia Adaptations for Survival. Berlin: De Gruyter. p. 133. ISBN 9783110370164.
  9. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
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