Eremophila brevifolia

Eremophila brevifolia, also known as spotted eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open, spindly shrub with sticky, short, serrated leaves and white to pink flowers and is only known from a few scattered populations.

Spotted eremophila
Eremophila brevifolia in Maranoa Gardens, Victoria

Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. brevifolia
Binomial name
Eremophila brevifolia
Synonyms[1]

Description

Eremophila brevifolia is an erect, open, spreading shrub with thin branches and which usually grows to a height of 2 m (7 ft). The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are mostly 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide, sticky, glabrous, broad egg-shaped to almost circular and have serrated or toothed margins.[2][3][4]

The flowers are usually borne singly in leaf axils on a straight stalk 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long. There are 5 narrow, pointed, green sepals which are 2–4.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and mostly glabrous. The petals are 6–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tube is a shade of white to pale purple on the outside and white with yellow spots inside. The petal lobes are glabrous except for the lower lobe which is covered with long hairs near its base. The inside of the tube is also filled with long, soft hairs. There are 4 stamens which are enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering mostly occurs from July to September and is followed by fruits which are dry, oblong and 2.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.[2][3][5]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Friedrich Gottlieb Bartling in 1845 as Myoporum brevifolium and the description was published in Plantae Preissianae.[6][7] In 1847, Alphonse de Candolle changed the name to Pseudopholidia brevifolia[8][9] and in 1859, Ferdinand von Mueller changed it to Eremophila brevifolia.[10][11] The specific epithet (brevifolia) is derived from the Latin words brevis meaning "short"[12]:708 and folia meaning "leaves".[12]:466

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila brevifolia is only known from three small, scattered areas near Geraldton, Northampton and Kellerberrin in the Geraldton Sandplains, Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions[5] where it grows near rivers.[2][3][13]

Conservation status

Eremophila brevifolia is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[5] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[14]

Use in horticulture

The small, delicate white flowers of this species contrast with its bright, glossy green leaves. It is a hardy plant, resistant to frost and to drought. It is easily propagated from cuttings and will grow in a range of soils and aspects, including partial shade.[4]

References
  1. "Eremophila brevifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 284–286. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 49. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 71–72. ISBN 9781876473655.
  5. "Eremophila brevifolia". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. "Myoporum brevifolium". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  7. Lehmann, J.G.C. (ed.); Bartling, Freidrich (1845). Plantae Preissianae. Hamburg. pp. 350–351. Retrieved 24 December 2015.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "Pseudopholidia brevifolium". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  9. de Candolle, Alphonse (1847). Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (Volume 11). Paris: Victor Masson. p. 704. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  10. "Eremophila brevifolia". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  11. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (Volume 1). Melbourne. p. 126. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  12. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  13. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 333. ISBN 0646402439.
  14. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.