Verticordia brownii
Encyclopedia
Verticordia brownii is a woody shrub that is found in Western Australia
. It was one of the first Verticordia
to be collected and known to European botanists. The species was first described in 1828 by de Candolle
, in the same year as Verticordia
's first description.
The common names have included Pink Brownii and Pink Cauliflower.
It stands as an erect or rounded shrub shrub, 200-700 mm tall and spreading 100-600 mm, and is smaller member of Verticordia. It does not possess the lignotuber structure of many of its cogenors. One main stem divides into small branchs upward to a flattened top, correlating to the corymbose form of the flower arrangements there. The leaves are 3-4mm and oblong or oval-shaped, the upper floral leaf is shorter.
The species closely resembles Verticordia eriocephala
, for its wooly or 'cauliflower' appearance, but excepting that species white or creamy flowers, more slender staminodes, stamen, style, and inland occurrence.
The longer style of Verticordia brownii is bearded, it bears pale pink to magenta flowers which form the corymbose clustering of flowerheads, the outer parts being longer to form the rounded shape. The flower's sepals are 2 mm long, with the slender cilia extending out 4.5 mm, a paler pink or magenta than the petals.
It occurs in deep red or yellow sands, especially in the ridges, coastal dunes, granitic sands and clays, within open scrub and heaths of the region. It is found along the southern coasts of the south west botanic province, records are of an extent between Hopetoun and Mount Ragged
It was named after the botanist, Robert Brown
, who collected many specimens of Australian flora during 1801 to 1803. The type specimens for this taxon was amongst these collections, made at Lucky Bay in what is now Cape Le Grand National Park
.
The plant began to be cultivated shortly after this discovery, its profuse and attractive flowering arrangement gaining the attention of nurserymen in England
.
The species is cultivated as an ornamental shrub, small in size, and usually presenting rose pink flowers that are profuse and perfumed. These appear during November, continuing until April, opening together and nearly covering the leaves and branches.
The plant remained undescribed until 1826, when Desfontaines included it in his previously described genus, Chamelaucium
; along with the plant now known as Verticordia plumosa
. These were described as belonging to a separate genus by de Candolle
in 1828, the first named as Verticordia.
The species was placed in a section known as Verticordia sect. Corymbiformis, in the revision by Alex George
in 1991.
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...
. It was one of the first Verticordia
Verticordia
Verticordia, a genus of the Myrtaceae family, are woody shrubs with small and exquisite flowers. They are mostly found in Southwest Australia, with several outlier species in northern regions. A revision of the genus in 1991 produced a classification within Verticordia of 3 subgenera, 24 sections,...
to be collected and known to European botanists. The species was first described in 1828 by de Candolle
A. P. de Candolle
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle also spelled Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at an herbarium...
, in the same year as Verticordia
Verticordia
Verticordia, a genus of the Myrtaceae family, are woody shrubs with small and exquisite flowers. They are mostly found in Southwest Australia, with several outlier species in northern regions. A revision of the genus in 1991 produced a classification within Verticordia of 3 subgenera, 24 sections,...
's first description.
The common names have included Pink Brownii and Pink Cauliflower.
It stands as an erect or rounded shrub shrub, 200-700 mm tall and spreading 100-600 mm, and is smaller member of Verticordia. It does not possess the lignotuber structure of many of its cogenors. One main stem divides into small branchs upward to a flattened top, correlating to the corymbose form of the flower arrangements there. The leaves are 3-4mm and oblong or oval-shaped, the upper floral leaf is shorter.
The species closely resembles Verticordia eriocephala
Verticordia eriocephala
Verticordia eriocephala is a woody shrub that occurs in Western Australia. The name is given for wooly appearance of the flowerheads, taken from the Greek, erion and cephale, and has also been commonly referred to as Lambswool, and Common, Native or Wild Cauliflower.The shrub is erect and may...
, for its wooly or 'cauliflower' appearance, but excepting that species white or creamy flowers, more slender staminodes, stamen, style, and inland occurrence.
The longer style of Verticordia brownii is bearded, it bears pale pink to magenta flowers which form the corymbose clustering of flowerheads, the outer parts being longer to form the rounded shape. The flower's sepals are 2 mm long, with the slender cilia extending out 4.5 mm, a paler pink or magenta than the petals.
It occurs in deep red or yellow sands, especially in the ridges, coastal dunes, granitic sands and clays, within open scrub and heaths of the region. It is found along the southern coasts of the south west botanic province, records are of an extent between Hopetoun and Mount Ragged
It was named after the botanist, Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
, who collected many specimens of Australian flora during 1801 to 1803. The type specimens for this taxon was amongst these collections, made at Lucky Bay in what is now Cape Le Grand National Park
Cape Le Grand National Park
Cape Le Grand National Park is a national park in Western Australia, south-east of Perth and east of Esperance. The park covers an area of The area is an ancient landscape has above sea level for well over 200 million years and remained unglaciated...
.
The plant began to be cultivated shortly after this discovery, its profuse and attractive flowering arrangement gaining the attention of nurserymen in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The species is cultivated as an ornamental shrub, small in size, and usually presenting rose pink flowers that are profuse and perfumed. These appear during November, continuing until April, opening together and nearly covering the leaves and branches.
The plant remained undescribed until 1826, when Desfontaines included it in his previously described genus, Chamelaucium
Chamelaucium
Chamelaucium, also known as waxflower, is a genus of shrubs endemic to south western Western Australia. They belong to the myrtle family Myrtaceae and have flowers similar to those of the tea-trees...
; along with the plant now known as Verticordia plumosa
Verticordia plumosa
Verticordia plumosa is a shrub, up to 1.4 m tall, found in Southwest Australia. It was one of the first Verticordia species to be collected and described. It is known by a common name, the Plumed Featherflower.-Description:...
. These were described as belonging to a separate genus by de Candolle
A. P. de Candolle
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle also spelled Augustin Pyrame de Candolle was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at an herbarium...
in 1828, the first named as Verticordia.
The species was placed in a section known as Verticordia sect. Corymbiformis, in the revision by Alex George
Alex George
Alexander Segger George is a Western Australian botanist. He is the authority on the plant genera Banksia and Dryandra...
in 1991.