{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} :For the clam genus, see ''Verticordia'' (bivalve). {{automatic taxobox |image = Verticordia plumosa 1.jpg |image_caption = ''V. plumosa'' growing on Mount Melville |taxon = Verticordia |authority = DC. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = *List of ''Verticordia'' species }}
'''''Verticordia''''' is a genus of more than 100 species of plants commonly known as '''featherflowers''', in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. They range in form from very small shrubs such as ''V. verticordina'' to trees like ''V. cunninghamii'', some spindly, others dense and bushy, but the majority are woody shrubs up to {{convert|2.0|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The flowers are variously described as "feathery", "woolly" or "hairy" and are found in most colours except blue. They often appear to be in rounded groups or spikes but in fact are always single, each flower borne on a separate stalk in a leaf axil. Each flower has five sepals and five petals all of a similar size with the sepals often having feathery or hairy lobes. There are usually ten stamens alternating with variously shaped staminodes. The style is simple, usually not extending beyond the petals and often has hairs near the tip. All but two species are found in Southwest Australia, the other two occurring in the Northern Territory.
The first scientific collection of verticordia specimens was made in 1791 and the first formal description of a verticordia was written in 1826 but the name ''Verticordia'' was not used until 1828. Alex George undertook a revision of the genus and in 1991 published a paper describing three subgenera, 24 sections, and 102 species.
''Verticordia'' species occupy a wide variety of habitats, with some species widespread and abundant whilst others are rare and endangered. The profuse and striking display of intricate flowers of many species has led them to being harvested for floristry or simply admired as a wildflower.
== Description == The genus is best known for its flowers, often described in superlatives, which form massed displays in woodlands and heaths. These shrubs have appealed to amateur collectors and botanists, and were appreciated by the peoples of Australia before European settlement. The fringed or feathered appearance of the flowers is often enhanced by vivid and contrasting colours: this has given a common name for the genus, featherflower.<ref>George, E.A. (2002), Verticordia: the turner of hearts: 101</ref> The variety displayed within the species, and between species in the genera is highly diverse. [[File:Kalbarri Park (2005).jpg|thumb|225px|''V. chrysantha'' in Kalbarri National Park]] [[File:Verticordia grandis, et al (Rowan).jpg|thumb|225px|Painting by Ellis Rowan; ''V. grandis, V. huegelii, V. brachypoda'']]
The genus is part of the family Myrtaceae which exist, predominantly, in the southern hemisphere. The family was highly successful in southern Jurassic Gondwana, remaining as the highly diverse tree and woody shrub genera found in Australia. ''Verticordia'' are native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and are closely related to ''Chamelaucium'', ''Rylstonea'', and ''Darwinia''. The genus ''Homoranthus'', found in other states of Australia, contains two species previously supposed to be ''Verticordia''.
The single flowers are often presented erect, these may be supported individually or grouped into tight displays of various arrangements. They may appear in succession or at once. The colour often varies as the flower ages, further adding to a painterly effect. The sepals are divided into lobes, with the exception of ''Verticordia verticordina'', in a variety of thread-like or feathery forms. The colour of the sepals and petals is highly diverse, it may be solid, or variable, or mutable.
These may be of several colours, or solid, the striking combinations are of all colours except blue. There is no unisexual flowers in the species. Different species may be growing together, their massed displays creating painterly contrasts in flowering landscapes.
They are highly variable in appearance, often as a woody shrub, low or up to 2 metres, two tropical species are 7 metres. Branches may be upright or splayed out, sometimes pendulous, and are tightly or sparsely arranged. Leaves are very small or medium, scattered or opposite, and might be ciliated at the margin. The leaf shape is highly variable across, and these may differ at the base and floral leaves on individuals.
Hybrids of different species have been recorded and identified. A variant, known as 'Eric John', appears to be an intergeneric cross between ''V. plumosa'' and ''Chamelaucium floriferum''.<ref name="Egerton-Warburton">{{cite journal|author1=Egerton-Warburton, Louise M.|author2=Ghisalberti, Emilio L.|author3=Burton, Neville C. |date=1998|title=Intergeneric Hybridism between Chamelaucium and Verticordia (Myrtaceae) Based on Analysis of Essential Oils and Morphology|journal=Australian Journal of Botany |volume=46|issue=2|pages=201–208|url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/BT96125.htm|doi=10.1071/BT96125|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Taxonomy == Archibald Menzies was the first European naturalist to make collections of verticordias. Menzies sailed on HMS ''Discovery'' during the Vancouver Expedition and made his collections in October 1791 near King George Sound, but these specimens would remain undescribed for 35 years.<ref name="Berndt">{{cite book|last1=(Berndt) George|first1=Elizabeth A.|last2=Pieroni|first2=Margaret|title=Verticordia: the turner of hearts|date=2002|publisher=University Of Western Australia Press|location=Crawley, Western Australia; Canberra|isbn=978-1-876268-46-6}}</ref>{{rp|5}}
The first formal description of a plant now known as a verticordia was by René Desfontaines in 1826. Desfontaines described a specimen which Robert Brown had collected at Lucky Bay in January 1802. Brown had been engaged as naturalist aboard HMS ''Investigator'' led by Matthew Flinders. The specimen was given the name ''Chamaelaucium brownii'',<ref name=APNI(1)>{{cite web|title=''Chamelaucium brownii''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/467349|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> in honour of Brown.<ref name="Berndt" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="DC.">{{cite journal|last1=Desfontaines|first1=René Louiche|title=Supplément au mémoire sur le genre ''Chamelaucium''|journal=Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle|date=1819|volume=5|page=271|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/108213#page/315/mode/1up|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
The first formal description of the genus ''Verticordia'' was written in 1828 by Augustin de Candolle and published in his ''Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis''.<ref name=APNI(2)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia'' DC.|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/500695|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> De Candolle transferred ''Chamelaucium brownii'' (as ''Verticordia brownii'') and ''Chamelaucium fontanesii'' (now known as ''Verticordia plumosa'') to the new genus but did not nominate a type species or provide an etymology for the name.<ref name="DC." /> It is possible that the type for ''Chamelaucium fontanesii'' was collected by Archibald Menzies in 1791 but collections of this species had also been made by Leschenault in 1803. The derivation of the name ''Verticordia'' was not explained by de Candolle, but it has generally been taken as a reference to the epithet of the ancient Roman goddess Venus. Venus's sacred flower was the myrtle, of a plant in same family (Myrtaceae) as ''Verticordia''. The name ''Verticordia'', literally translated, means 'turner of hearts'.<ref name="Sharr1996">{{cite book |title=Western Australian plant names and their meanings : a glossary |date=1996 |editor-first=F.A. |editor-last=Sharr |editor-link= F. A. Sharr |publisher=University of Western Australia Press |isbn=1875560432 |page=73 |edition=2nd (Enlarged)}}</ref><ref name="Berndt" />{{rp|6}}
Other early additions to the genus were ''V. cunninghamii'' named in 1843 by Johannes Schauer for a collection made by Allan Cunningham,<ref name=APNI(3)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia cunninghamii''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/503922|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="Schauer">{{cite book|last1=Schauer|first1=Johannes Conrad|title=Monographia Myrtacearum Xerocarpicarum|date=1843|page=207|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015061404755;view=1up;seq=59|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> and ''V. huegelii''<ref name=APNI(4)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia huegelii''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/530300|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> and ''V. insignis''<ref name=APNI(5)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia insignis''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/530379|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> collected by Charles von Hügel and described by Stephan Endlicher in 1837.<ref name="Endl.">{{cite book|last1=Endlicher|first1=Stephan|title=Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in Sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus liber baro de Hugel|date=1837|location=Vienna|pages=46–47|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.64405481;view=1up;seq=56|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> The German botanist Ludwig Preiss collected more than 2,000 species of plants whilst living in Western Australia, including those named ''V. endlicheriana'',<ref name=APNI(6)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia endlicheriana''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/504129|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> ''V. habrantha''<ref name=APNI(7)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia habrantha''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/504441|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> and ''V. lehmannii''<ref name=APNI(8)>{{cite web|title=''Verticordia lehmannii''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/661320|publisher=APNI|access-date=25 September 2016}}</ref> by Schauer in 1843.<ref name="Schauer" />
In 1991, Alex George undertook a review of the genus and described 84 new species, subspecies, and varieties. All were grouped into three subgenera and twenty-four sections.<ref name="Nuytsia">{{cite journal|last1=George|first1=Alex|title=New taxa, combinations and typifications in ''Verticordia'' (Myrtaceae : Chamelaucieae)|journal=Nuytsia|date=1991|volume=7|issue=3|pages=231–394|doi=10.58828/nuy00167 }}</ref> His infrageneric classification was supported by a study of chromosome number in ''Verticordia'' and of barriers to hybridisation.<ref name="CSIRO">{{cite journal|author1=Tyagi, AP.|author2=Mccomb, J.|author3=Considine, J. |date=1991|title=Cytogenetic and Pollination Studies in the Genus ''Verticordia'' DC (Abstract)|journal=Australian Journal of Botany |volume=39|issue=3|pages=261–272 |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/BT9910261.htm|doi= 10.1071/BT9910261|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In 2010, George described a new species, ''V. setacea'' and new subspecies of ''V. mitchelliana''.<ref name="Nuytsia(2)">{{cite journal|last1=George|first1=Alex S.|last2=Barrett|first2=Matthew D.|title=Two new taxa of ''Verticordia'' (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) from south-western Australia|journal=Nuytsia|date=2010|volume=20|pages=309–318|doi=10.58828/nuy00599 }}</ref>
At present, the subgenera are ''Chrysoma'' with seven sections and twenty-one species, subgenus ''Verticordia'' with eleven sections and thirty-six species, and subgenus ''Eperephes'' with six sections and forty-four species.<ref name="Berndt" />{{rp|99–114}}<ref name="Nuytsia" />
== Distribution and habitat == ''Verticordia'' occur naturally in woodlands, sandy heaths and on granite outcrops. The mediterranean climate, sandy soils of the Southwest of the state, is where the greatest number of ''Verticordia'' species are found.
== Use in horticulture == ''Verticordia'' are known for their feather-like or fringed flowers, the beauty of these is invariably included in any description. This has been accompanied by a high desirability as a garden plant, and as a cut flower. Restrictions exist on the collection of wildflowers in Western Australia, but previous collection of flowers for the floral industry is thought to have placed some species under duress.
They are generally somewhat difficult to grow in cultivation, but some success has been achieved. The most reliable species is ''V. Plumosa'', the Plumed Featherflower, but many other species are found in highly specialised habitat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anpsa.org.au/APOL16/dec99-1.html|title=Shrubby Myrtles |last=Elliot|first=Rodger |date=December 1999|work=Australian Plants online|publisher=ASGAP|access-date=26 September 2008}}</ref> Outside of their natural habitat ''Verticordia'' have shown consistently good results in the temperate regions of Australia. All species require excellent drainage and prefer Mediterranean-type climate of very dry summers and wet winters.
The cultivation of ''Verticordia'' in the Eastern states of Australia has proved difficult; many of the species are intolerant of the wet summers of those regions, especially with regard to root or collar rot and moulds and mildew. The successes achieved by some growers have been through the use of bell jars, attention to soil types and potting mixes, and, experimentally, the use of grafting onto plants of related genera, such as ''Darwinia citriodora'' and Geraldton Wax, ''Chamelaucium uncinatum''.
== See also == * List of Verticordia species
<gallery> File:Verticordia enlicheriana manicula.jpg|''V. endlicheriana'' near Mount Lesueur File:Verticordia halophila 0158.jpg|''V. halophila'' in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne File:Verticordia huegelii (8693062198).jpg|''V. heugelii'' File:Verticordia mitchelliana 1.jpg|''V. mitchelliana'', in Australian National Botanic Gardens File:Fleurs roses inconnues.JPG|''V. monadelpha'' File:Verticordia nitens flowers Gingin.jpg|''V. nitens'' near Gingin File:Verticordia plumosa.jpg|''V. plumosa'', in Maranoa Gardens </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}} * {{cite web | url = http://anpsa.org.au/APOL2006/dec06-2.html | title = Bringing Verticordia out of the Too Hard Basket | access-date = 30 October 2007 | author = Elizabeth George | date = May 2004 | work = Australian Plants online – 2006 | publisher = ASGAP }} * {{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?/gardening/stories/s4202.htm | title = Feather Flowers Factsheet | access-date = 5 November 2007 | author = Neville Passmore | date = 1999-02-05 | work = Gardening Australia | publisher = ABC }} * {{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2093338.htm | title =Fact Sheet: Verticordias | access-date = 7 April 2008 | author = Josh Byrne | date =2007-11-17 | work = Gardening Australia | publisher = ABC }} * {{cite web | url = http://anpsa.org.au/APOL30/jun03-2.html | title = Verticordia in the Garden | access-date = 6 January 2008 | author = Max Hewett | date = December 1995 | work = Australian Plants online – June 2003 | publisher = Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants | quote = From ''Australian Plants'', the societies journal. Max Hewett is leader of ASGAP's Verticordia Study Group. }} * {{cite web | url = http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/o/content/view/313// | title = ''Verticordias'' | access-date = 7 April 2008 | year = 2008 | work =Botanic garden | publisher = Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority (Kings Park) |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080722005254/http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/o/content/view/313/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 22 July 2008}} * {{cite journal|last=Seaton|first= K.A. |date=2006|title=Comparison of vase-life and ethylene response of Verticordia cut flowers |journal=Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology|volume=81|issue=4|pages=721–727|doi= 10.1080/14620316.2006.11512129 |bibcode= 2006JHSB...81..721S |s2cid= 82679503 }}
== External links == {{Commons-inline}} {{Wikispecies-inline}} * {{FloraBase}} * {{APNI|name=''Verticordia''|id= 29067}} <!-- *{{GRIN | name = ''Verticordia'' DC. | id = 12693 }} species only-->*[http://www.vollmer-mythologie.de/verticordia/ ''Verticordia'' Römische Mythologie, Aus ''Vollmer's Mythologie aller Völker'', Stuttgart 1874]
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Category:Verticordia Category:Endemic flora of Australia Category:Myrtaceae genera Category:Myrtales of Australia Category:Taxa named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle