#verticordia

Fuzzy.

First formally described by Stephan Endlicher in 1837, and like the last one based on specimens collected by Charles von Hügel near the Swan River in 1833. The species is named after the latter, in fact. The common name refers to the way the white, cream or yellow flowers turn pink, red or maroon as they age.

An erect or sprawling shrub that grows in sand and clay, often near granite, laterite or sandstone and usually in the same communities as other Verticordia species. Widespread from Geraldton to Esperance, although one of the subspecies only has small scattered populations.

Verticordia (1880's) by Ellis Rowan.

Watercolour.

National Library of Australia Digital collection.

AKA China Cups.

Widespread in a band from Shark Bay to Esperance, growing in a wide range of soils and conditions. Despite that, and the spectacular floral display, not often grown in cultivation because it's difficult to propagate.

Type species of the genus, although it was originally described by French botanist René Louiche Desfontaines in 1839 as Chamelaucium plumosum. In 1917, English botanist and Mayor of Oxford George Druce moved it to Verticordia. However, it's not sure who collected the type specimen, or where from.

Widespread from Dongara to Esperance, in sandy or clayey soils, gravel, and around rocky outcrops, in seasonally wet situations, and on undulating plains, hills, and road verges.

AKA Pink Morrison, pink woolly featherflower, white woolly featherflower or pink cauliflower, for some reason. The specific epithet monadelpha is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "one brother" referring to the united stamens.

Widespread from Wongan Hills, NW to Shark Bay, growing in yellow or white sand, and gravel, on sandplains, rocky hills & outcrops, undulating plains, and low rises.

Verticordia monadelpha populations were once threatened by overexploitation for cut flowers, but are now protected by state's general prohibition on wildflower picking. Not that stops everybody - some assholes have been seen pulled over on the side of the road and coming back with basketsfull of illegally cut flowers.