Verticordia cunninghamii
Encyclopedia
Verticordia cunninghamii is a large shrub or small tree occurring in the north of Western Australia
and extending into the Northern Territory
. The species is named for Allan Cunningham
, who gathered the type collection at Roe River in the Kimberley region on the 14 December 1820. It is also known by the common name of Tree Featherflower, or the indigenous name of Liandu.
Growing up to 7 metres tall, the shrub or tree may be bushy; exposure to fire may induce several large stems to emerge from the lignotuber
. The flowers are creamy and cream or white, sweetly scented, and arranged in spreading, rounded groups. The leaves on the stems are similar to those on the floral branches, they are linear, with entire margins, have distinct oil glands, and may be cylindrical or angled in profile.
Widespread distribution in the Kimberley and Northern regions, it also occurs in Kakadu National Park
. The species is usually associated with areas of seasonal flooding and watercourses, or along creeks, and has a preference for loam or gravel at exposed sandstone, growing in the white, or grey, or red sands there.
Verticordia cunninghamii is the type species
for Verticordia sect. Tropica
. This section
includes two other outlying species of an otherwise West Australian
genus; Verticordia verticillata
and Verticordia decussata
.
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...
and extending into the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. The species is named for Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
, who gathered the type collection at Roe River in the Kimberley region on the 14 December 1820. It is also known by the common name of Tree Featherflower, or the indigenous name of Liandu.
Growing up to 7 metres tall, the shrub or tree may be bushy; exposure to fire may induce several large stems to emerge from the lignotuber
Lignotuber
A lignotuber is a starchy swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem by fire. The crown contains buds from which new stems may sprout, and a sufficient store of nutrients to support a period of growth in the absence of...
. The flowers are creamy and cream or white, sweetly scented, and arranged in spreading, rounded groups. The leaves on the stems are similar to those on the floral branches, they are linear, with entire margins, have distinct oil glands, and may be cylindrical or angled in profile.
Widespread distribution in the Kimberley and Northern regions, it also occurs in Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin.Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of , extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres...
. The species is usually associated with areas of seasonal flooding and watercourses, or along creeks, and has a preference for loam or gravel at exposed sandstone, growing in the white, or grey, or red sands there.
Verticordia cunninghamii is the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
for Verticordia sect. Tropica
Verticordia sect. Tropica
Verticordia sect. Tropica is a section of Verticordia that describes three species; outliers in the distribution range of the genus...
. This section
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
includes two other outlying species of an otherwise West Australian
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...
genus; Verticordia verticillata
Verticordia verticillata
Verticordia verticillata is a shrub or small tree occurring in the north of Western Australia and extending into the Northern Territory. The species is named for verticillatus, the Latin term for whorled, for the leaf arrangement that distinguishes it from its cogenor, Verticordia cunninghamii...
and Verticordia decussata
Verticordia decussata
Verticordia decussata is a shrub that is endemic to the Northern Territory.The description of the species was first published in Austrobaileya in 1977.The shrub is able to regrow after bushfire....
.