op et ala ▁is ▁a ▁flow ering ▁plant ▁in ▁the ▁my rt le ▁family , ▁My rt aceae ▁and ▁is ▁en demic ▁to ▁the ▁south - west ▁of ▁Western ▁Australia . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁low ▁shr ub ▁with ▁small ▁leaves ▁and ▁heads ▁of ▁p ink ▁to ▁mag enta - col oured ▁flowers ▁in ▁late ▁spring ▁and ▁early ▁summer . ▁ ▁Description ▁Vert ic ord ia ▁st en op et ala ▁is ▁a ▁highly ▁branch ed ▁shr ub ▁which ▁usually ▁grows ▁to ▁a ▁height ▁ ▁and ▁wide . ▁The ▁leaves ▁are ▁linear , ▁slightly ▁wider ▁towards ▁the ▁tip , ▁ ▁long ▁and ▁semi - circ ular ▁in ▁cross - section . ▁ ▁The ▁flowers ▁are ▁arranged ▁in ▁round ▁or ▁c ory mb - like ▁groups , ▁each ▁flower ▁on ▁a ▁st alk ▁ ▁long . ▁The ▁fl oral ▁cup ▁is ▁about ▁ ▁long , ▁smooth ▁and ▁hair y . ▁The ▁sep als ▁are ▁more ▁or ▁less ▁spread ing , ▁ ▁long , ▁p ink ▁to ▁mag enta - col oured ▁with ▁ 6 ▁to ▁ 8 ▁fe ath ery ▁lo bes . ▁The ▁pet als ▁are ▁a ▁similar ▁colour ▁to ▁the ▁sep als , ▁about ▁ ▁long , ▁egg - sh aped ▁with ▁a ▁few ▁short ▁teeth ▁near ▁the ▁tip ▁and ▁are ▁slightly ▁hair y ▁on ▁the ▁outside . ▁The ▁style ▁is ▁ ▁long , ▁cur ved ▁and ▁hair y ▁near ▁the ▁tip . ▁Flow ering ▁time ▁is ▁from ▁October ▁to ▁January . ▁ ▁Tax onomy ▁and ▁naming ▁Vert ic ord ia ▁st en