Verticordia citrella is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, densely-branched shrub with cylinder shaped stem leaves that differ from those near the flowers, and small yellow flowers in groups near the ends of the branches.
Verticordia citrella is a shrub with a single stem at the base but highly branched, growing to a height of up to 1.0 m (3 ft) and a width of up to 50 cm (20 in). The leaves on the stems are linear in shape, round in cross-section, 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and taper to a point. Those near the flowers are broad elliptic to almost circular and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long.[2]
The flowers are faintly scented, arranged in round or corymb-like groups on erect stalks 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The floral cup is top-shaped, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, glabrous and slightly warty. The sepals are yellow, 2.0 mm (0.079 in) long, with 5 or 6 lobes with hairy fringes. The petals are also yellow, 1.5–1.8 mm (0.06–0.07 in) and have long, spreading finger-like lobes. The style is 0.8 mm (0.03 in) long, straight and glabrous. Flowering time is from October to November.[2]
The species V. acerosa is closely related and similar but it has larger leaves and larger flowers, and the flowers turn red or darker colours as they age.[2]
Verticordia citrella was first formally described by Alex George in 1991 from specimens collected between Perth and Toodyay by Alex and Elizabeth George. The description was published in Nuytsia.[1][3] The specific epithet (citrella) is derived from the Latin adjective citreus meaning "of lemon-yellow colour"[4] with the suffix -ella making the adjective diminutive,[5] referring to the colour and small size of the flowers.[2]
George placed this species in subgenus Chrysoma, section Chrysoma along with V. acerosa, V. subulata, V. endlicheriana.[3]
This verticordia usually grows in sand that is damp in winter, in open shrubland. It only occurs in a single nature reserve between Perth and Toodyay.[6][7]
Verticordia citrella is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[6] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[8]
Verticordia citrella has been grown in Western Australia in well-drained soil and has flowered prolifically in sunny positions. It has been more difficult to grow in eastern Australia but has survived in containers for 3 or 4 years. It has been propagated from cuttings but plants grown in deep sand have sometimes self-sown from seed.[2]
Verticordia citrella is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, densely-branched shrub with cylinder shaped stem leaves that differ from those near the flowers, and small yellow flowers in groups near the ends of the branches.
