Verticordia crebra

Verticordia crebra is a sprawling, open-branched shrub with a single main stem and which grows to a height of about 30 to 75 cm (10 to 30 in) and a width of 20 to 60 cm (8 to 20 in). Its leaves are crowded over the entire plant, linear in shape and round in cross-section, 4–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long with a stalk 1.0–2.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long, giving the plant the appearance of a small pine tree. The flowers are scattered, appearing in a few upper leaf axils on erect or spreading stalks 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, and apart from the styles are almost hidden by the foliage. The floral cup is shaped like half a sphere, about 2 mm (0.08 in) long, smooth and densely hairy. The sepals are pale yellow, 4 mm (0.2 in) long with 6 to 8 feathery lobes. The petals are roughly circular in shape, pale yellow, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long with irregularly toothed margins. The style is 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, gently curved, hairy and extends well beyond the flower and the foliage. Flowering time is from May to October.

This verticordia grows on rocky spongolite and in pockets of soil on laterite in low, open heath. It is only known from small areas in the Fitzgerald River National Park in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.

While probably not an attractive garden plant, research is being done to determine the best methods of propagation and cultivation so that the species may be conserved in the event of loss of wild populations.

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