Verticordia minutiflora

Verticordia minutiflora is a bushy shrub which grows to a height of 20–90 cm (8–40 in) and about 90 cm (40 in) wide. Its leaves are crowded, linear in shape, almost circular in cross-section, 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long and have a blunt end.[2]

The flowers are scented and arranged in corymb-like groups on the ends of the branches, each flower on a stalk 1–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) long. The floral cup is top-shaped, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and has a few short, soft hairs. The sepals are white to pale pink, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long with 2 or 3 hairy lobes. The petals are the same colour as the sepals, oblong to egg-shaped and 1.5–2.0 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long. The style is 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and straight or slightly curved and hairy. Flowering time is mainly from January to June.[2]

Verticordia minutiflora was first formally described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1864 from a specimen collected by George Maxwell "at the western end of the Great Australian Bight" and the description was published in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[1][3] The specific epithet (minutiflora) is derived from the Latin minutus meaning 'minute' and -florus, '-flowered', referring to the small flowers of this species.[2]

In his review of the genus in 1991, Alex George placed this species in subgenus Verticordia, section Micrantha along with V. fastigiata and V. vicinella.[4]

This verticordia is found from near Esperance to Cape Arid and inland as far as Mount Burdett[2] in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions.[5][6] It is common near Esperance and is sometimes the dominant shrub, favouring areas near granite outcrops in gravelly soil.[7]

Verticordia minutiflora is classified as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[5]

Although described as "unspectacular", V.minutiflora is a hardy shrub with neat foliage. It is readily propagated from cuttings and can be grown in a range of soils.[2]