Greg Keighery will be speaking at the Main Club General Meeting on our fascinating Verticordias. Verticordia contains some of the most colourful and iconic species of the Kwongan. The mass flowering of the “cauliflower” members of the genus east of Hyden is a sight that is world class. Defined by finely divided calyx lobes, the genus is closely related to another Australian genus, Darwinia. It has long been considered that the divided calyx lobes which aid dispersal are not a valid character to define the genus and subsquent genetic work supports the subdivision of the genus.

However, what makes members special is not their genus name but the species in the wild. Although the general outlines of their taxonomy have been published, little is known of many members’ biology. The wide range of beautiful flowers found in the genus are driven by pollination. Members may be pollinated by birds, mammals and highly specific bees, and the flowers reflect this. Many have specific responses to fire (resprout or re-seed), and mass flower after disturbance. Unlocking the secrets of Verticordia in the wild will explain their attraction to us, help conserve species and create a future improved taxonomy. Finally it is a great fun subject for citizen scientists and be the main subject of the talk.

Greg is a retired Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Science and Conservation Division of the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. As a botanist, he was largely responsible for regional scale surveys to establish conservation networks. Over the past 30 years he has undertaken biological surveys throughout most of Western Australia, including the Goldfields, Kimberley, Nullarbor, Carnarvon Basin, Swan Coastal Plain and most major parks and reserves. Greg has published extensively on the biology, phytogeography, ecology and taxonomy of native and weedy plants of Western Australia.