Eremophila (plant)

Eremophila
	Eremophila maculata (cultivated) at Desert Demonstration Garden in Las Vegas
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Tribe:	Myoporeae
Genus:	Eremophila ; R.Br.
Species
	See List of Eremophila species
Synonyms
	List Duttonia F.Muell. nom. illeg. ; Eremodendron A.DC. ; Eremophila sect. Sentis(F.Muell.) F.Muell.; ExemophilaF.Muell. orth. var. ; PholidiaR.Br.; Pholidia sect. SentisF.Muell.; PholidiopsisF.Muell.; PseudopholidiaA.DC.; Santis Wettst. orth. var.; SentisF.Muell.; StenochilusR.Br.; ;

Last updated August 29, 2024

Eremophila is a genus of more than 270 species of plants in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae all of which are endemic to mainland Australia. Some species have common names including emu bush, poverty bush or fuchsia bush^[2], reflecting the belief that emus eat the fruit, their arid environment or a superficial resemblance to the flowers of plants in the genus Fuchsia . Eremophilas are widespread in the arid areas of Australia, especially Western Australia and range in size from low-growing shrubs to small trees. The petals are joined, at least at their bases, into a tube with the upper petals different in size and shape from the lower ones.

Description

Eremophilas vary in size and habit from low, prostrate shrubs such as E. serpens to small trees in the case of E. bignoniiflora . Leaf size and shape is also variable but the leaves are usually small and are often shiny or hairy. The flowers usually have 5 spreading sepals and 5 petals which are joined into a tube, at least at the base. The most common flower colours are red, purple, lilac and mauve but others are white and even green. Many species have flowers which have a combination of colours, or have spotted or streaked markings, or both. Sometimes only the petals are coloured but often the sepals are also colourful.^[3]^[4]^[5]

There is variation in flower shape, the most common being two petals at the top of the tube and three below, with the stamens enclosed in the tube as in the case of E. exilifolia . Species with this arrangement are generally insect-pollinated, the lower petals acting as a landing area. Less common are those that have four petal lobes at the top of the flower, one below which is curled under the flower and the stamens extending beyond the petal tube, as in the case of E. glabra . These flowers are generally bird pollinated, the bird holding the plant stem while it visits the flower. A few others have flowers with a combination of these arrangements.^[3]^[4]^[5]

As the flower ages, the corolla falls off, then the calyx enlarges and becomes coloured as the fruit enlarges. The fruits contain from 2 to 12 seeds and may lie dormant in the ground for many years until disturbed by fire, heavy rainfall and sometimes by human activity such as roadworks. Some species such as E. sturtii reproduce by suckering and have become troublesome weeds in some areas. However, many more are rare or threatened by human activities such as land clearing, pastoral activity and mining.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Eremophila was first formally described in 1810 by the botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae ^[7] and the first species to be named were E. oppositifolia and E. alternifolia but Brown did not nominate a type species.^[8] The Victorian government botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller was the most influential early naturalist to take an interest in the genus and described 47 species, many of which were collected during expeditions to remote areas of Australia. Robert Chinnock is the modern authority who has named more than 100 species of eremophilas but because many species grow in rarely visited places, more remain to be named. So far, 221 species have been described but another 40 have been discovered but not yet described.^[4] The most recent additions to the list are Eremophila buirchellii and Eremophila calcicola which were formally described in 2016.^[9]

The name Eremophila is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐρῆμος (erêmos) meaning "lonely" or "desert" and φίλος (phílos) meaning “dear" or "beloved”^[10] alluding to the species' adaptation to arid environments.^[11]

Phylogenetic work

A comprehensive molecular study was conducted in 2021 to shed light on both the relationships between Eremophila species, and other species in the tribe Myoporeae. The study was conducted with 205 out of the 233 described (as of 2021) species of Eremophila.

The phyogenetic tree produced indicates the presence of four major clades. Additionally, the study provides strong evidence that the entire genus is paraphyletic, with all other genera of tribe Myoporeae nested within it. This includes the genera Myoporum , Bontia , Glycocystis , Pentacoelium , Calamphoreus and Diocirea. Interestingly, despite being native to the Caribbean, the monotypic species Bontia daphnoides is deeply nested within clade C of the tree. While suggestions have been proposed as to how this should be resolved, no action has been taken as of yet.^[12]

Species list

See List of Eremophila species

Common names

A significant number of eremophilas have the term emu bush or poverty bush as part of their common names, although sometimes two species have the same common name and sometimes one species has more than one common name. Of the approximately 270 species, the following have at least one common name:

Emu bush

E. alternifolia – narrow-leaved emu bush

E. bignoniiflora – gooramurra, bignonia emu bush

E. compacta – compact emu bush

E. divaricata – spreading emu bush

E. elderi – aromatic emu bush

E. gilesii – Charleville turkey bush, green turkey bush, Giles emu bush

E. glabra – common emu bush

E. glutinosa – sticky emu bush

E. hillii – Hill's emu bush

E. lactea – milky emu bush

E. maculata – spotted emu bush

E. polyclada – twiggy emu-bush

E. scaberula – rough emu bush

E. scoparia – silver emu bush, broom bush

Poverty bush

E. abietina – spotted poverty bush

E. anomala – Paroo poverty bush

E. attenuata – Connie Sue poverty bush

E. aureivisca – Rason poverty bush

E. battii – Batt's poverty bush

E. bowmanii – Bowman's poverty bush

E. campanulata – bell-flowered poverty bush

E. ciliata – Archer's poverty bush

E. denticulata – toothed poverty bush

E. foliosissima – poverty bush

E. granitica – granite poverty bush, thin-leaved poverty bush

E. maitlandii – Shark Bay poverty bush

E. malacoides – frontage poverty bush

E. margarethae – sandbank poverty bush

E. metallicorum – miners poverty bush

E. micrantha – small-flowered poverty bush

E. parvifolia – small-leaved poverty bush

E. pterocarpa – wing-fruited eremophila, silver poverty bush

E. spectabilis – showy poverty bush

E. spinescens – spiny poverty bush

Distribution and habitat

Eremophilas are distributed across the Australian mainland, primarily in arid regions and the majority of species occur in Western Australia. Eremophila maculata is found in all Australian states but there are no eremophilas in Tasmania. Eremophila debilis is found in New Zealand although its appearance there is thought to be recent, most likely as a result of introduction by people.^[6]^[13]

At least 229 species are found in Western Australia and about 80% of those are endemic to that state. They are most common in arid areas - in the Meekatharra-Wiluna area there are more than 50 eremophila species and are the most common shrubs encountered. A few species, including E. complanata and E. mirabilis have very restricted distributions and only occur on one or two rocky outcrops.^[4]

Ecology

Eremophila includes entomophilous species, with flowers adapted to attract insects, and ornithophilous species, with flowers that attract birds. Entomophilous flowers have protruding lower lips, which provide a landing area for insects, and they are often blue, purple, or white. Bird-adapted flowers are red, orange, yellow, or green, and have lobes pointing downwards which discourages insects. Bird pollinated species also tend to have longer stamens, which brush pollen onto and off the bird's head as it feeds.^[6] The fruits are eaten by emus, which disperse the seeds in their droppings^[6] although the belief that this aids in the germination of the seeds is mistaken.^[5]

Some species of Eremophila, such as E.freelingii and E.latrobei are toxic to stock whereas others, including E.bignoniiflora and E.oppositifolia are useful fodder plants.^[5]

Uses

Indigenous uses

Aboriginal people used eremophilas for cultural and health reasons. For example, the Adnyamathanha people used Varti-varka ( Eremophila longifolia ) in burial ceremonies and in initiation ceremonies. Skin complaints were treated with a mixture of emu oil and the ash from burned bark of the plant.^[5]

Use in horticulture

Eremophilas have not often been cultivated in the past, although some species, including Eremophila maculata are well known. Their rarity in gardens was partly because they were difficult to propagate or because they were rarely seen, even in nature. As methods of propagating and growing have improved, the popularity of eremophilas has increased. The beauty and abundance of their flowers, variety of foliage and habit, and extended flowering period make them attractive garden plants. They are mostly drought resistant and many also tolerant of frost, allowing them to be grown in most situations. The difficulty of propagating from seed, and also sometimes from cuttings has prevented many species from being commercially available, but most species can be grafted onto rootstock of Myoporum species, giving the added advantage of being able to grow in almost any soil type, including heavy clay. Myoporum insulare , M. montanum and M. acuminatum are suitable, depending on where the plant is to be grown.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17] It is possible to germinate eremophila seeds but the process involves either leaving the fruit in the ground for long periods or removing the seed from the fruit without damaging the seed.^[18]

In nature, most eremophila grow where rainfall is infrequent and are adapted to dealing with long dry spells, even droughts lasting years. Eremophilas are therefore suited to low maintenance gardens, those where water supply is limited or where gardeners want a garden that does not require large volumes of water. In fact, excessive water can kill many species. In a severe drought, some species, such as E. microtheca can lose their leaves and appear to be dead after a long dry period, only to recover and turn into a compact, healthy-looking shrub after a deep watering. Most also grow in nutrient-poor soil, and fertiliser is rarely needed or beneficial.^[14]

Related Research Articles

Eremophila alternifolia, commonly known as the narrow-leaved emu bush or narrow-leaved poverty bush, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to areas between the far west of New South Wales, the far south of the Northern Territory and the southern half of Western Australia. It is a variable shrub, with respect to its growth form, leaf shape and flower colour. Aboriginal Australians used the leaves to treat ailments such as colds and skin infections and pharmacological testing has shown that the leaves contain compounds that affect cardiac activity.

Eremophila maculata, also known as spotted emu bush or spotted fuchsia-bush, is a plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is the most widespread of its genus in nature and probably the most frequently cultivated Eremophila. It is a spreading, often densely branched shrub with variable leaf shape and flower colour, but the other features of the flowers such as the size and shape of the parts are consistent. The inside of the flower is often, but not always, spotted.

Eremophila longifolia, known by a range of common names including berrigan, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with weeping branches, long, narrow leaves and brick-red or pink flowers and is found in all Australian mainland states and the Northern Territory.

Eremophila bignoniiflora, commonly known as Bignonia emu bush, creek wilga, dogwood, and river argee is a plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory and all mainland states of Australia. It is also used by various Aboriginal Australian groups as bush medicine, and known as eurah or eura (Kamilaroi), gooramurra (Jingulu), and kurumbimi (Mudburra).

Eremophila abietina, also known as spotted poverty bush, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a few arid areas of Western Australia. It is a stiff, upright, compact and very sticky shrub with distinctive, dark bluish-green leaves and pale coloured flowers spotted purple.

Eremophila scoparia, commonly known as silver emubush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a broom-like shrub with narrow, hooked leaves, small sepals and deep lilac-coloured to white petals and is common and widespread in southern parts of the continent.

Eremophila bowmanii, also known as silver turkeybush, Bowman's poverty bush and flannel bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a low to medium, spreading shrub with silvery-grey, hairy foliage and blue to lilac flowers, and sometimes grows in dense thickets with mulga.

Eremophila decipiens, commonly known as slender fuchsia bush or narrow-leaved fuchsia bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area extending from the south-west of Western Australia to southern parts of South Australia. It is low, sprawling shrub with lance-shaped leaves and red, orange or yellow flowers on a long, S-shaped stalk.

Eremophila denticulata, also known as toothed eremophila, toothed poverty bush and Fitzgerald eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with red flowers and leaves that have toothed margins.

Eremophila dichroantha, also known as bale-hook eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many ascending branches making the plant appear broom-like. It has small, hooked leaves and small, though abundant, violet to lilac-coloured flowers.

Eremophila lactea, commonly known as milky emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with its branches and leaves mostly glabrous but with white blotches due to the presence of dry resin. It is a critically endangered plant species mostly found in disturbed areas such as roadsides.

Myoporum acuminatum, commonly known as waterbush, pointed boobialla or mangrove boobialla, is a flowering plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It grows in rainforest or wet eucalyptus forest near the coast and in the Coastal Ranges, and is occasionally associated with mangroves. Occasionally it is found in the drier rainforests. It grows naturally as far south as Mimosa Rocks National Park in far south eastern New South Wales, and north to Fraser Island in Southern Queensland.

Eremophila sturtii, commonly known as turpentine bush, is a shrub endemic to Australia. Aboriginal people give it names including munyunpa and watara. A medium to large shrub, it is often multi-stemmed and has narrow leaves and lilac-coloured to pale mauve flowers. It is widespread and common in the drier parts of Australia and occurs in all mainland states, although it is endangered in Victoria. It is sometimes regarded as a weed, partly because of its ability to reproduce vegetatively.

Myoporum montanum, commonly known as waterbush or boobialla, is a shrub native to Australia, New Guinea and Timor. The species is extremely variable in size growth habit and leaf form, with three primary forms recognised. Its occurrence in many places is restricted to coastal regions, watercourses and other locales with more reliable water supplies. It was this association with water that gave rise to the name water bush.

Eremophila pterocarpa, commonly known as silver poverty bush or winged-fruited eremophila, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a densely foliaged, upright shrub with most of its parts covered with a silvery powder.

Eremophila aureivisca, also known as Rason poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-east of Western Australia. It is a shrub with narrow, sticky, shiny leaves and pale purple flowers, known only from the edge of Lake Rason but may be more widely distributed in this remote area.

Eremophila battii, also known as Batt's poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to central Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with short, very hairy leaves and pink, purple or blue flowers.

Eremophila gilesii, commonly known Charleville turkey bush, green turkey bush, desert fuchsia and Giles emu bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is usually a low, spreading shrub with pinkish-lilac to purple flowers and is widespread in the Northern Territory and all mainland states except Victoria. It is considered a difficult agricultural weed in some parts of Queensland but is often used as a bush medicine by Aboriginal people.

Eremophila margarethae, commonly known as sandbank poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with grey leaves, flowers a shade of pink or purple, common in central areas of Western Australia.

Eremophila spectabilis, commonly known as showy poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense, erect shrub with narrow, greyish leaves and blue, mauve or purple flowers.

References

1 2 "Eremophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
↑ "Eremophila and Relatives". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 28 August 2024.
1 2 3 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. p. 180. ISBN 9781877058165.
1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia. Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. ISBN 9780980348156.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Eremophila and Relatives". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
1 2 3 4 Moore, P. (2005). Plants of Inland Australia. Reed New Holland. ISBN 187633486X.
↑ "Eremophila". APNI. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
↑ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (Volume 1). London. p. 518. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
↑ Brown, Andrew P.; Davis, Robert W. (2016). "Eremophila buirchellii and E. calcicola (Scrophulariaceae), two new species from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 27: 213–216.
↑ Moore, Bruce, ed. (2002). The Australian Oxford Dictionary (1999 ed.). South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press. p. 441. ISBN 0195507932.
↑ "Eremophila alternifolia". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
1 2 Fowler, Rachael M.; Murphy, Daniel J.; McLay, Todd G.B.; Buirchell, Bevan J.; Chinnock, Robert J.; Bayly, Michael J. (June 2021). "Molecular phylogeny of tribe Myoporeae (Scrophulariaceae) using nuclear ribosomal DNA : Generic relationships and evidence for major clades". Taxon. 70 (3): 570–588. doi:10.1002/tax.12495. ISSN 0040-0262.
↑ Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 228–229. ISBN 9781877058165.
1 2 Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 13–27. ISBN 9781876473655.
↑ "Eremophila and its Relatives - Propagation". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
↑ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 212. ISBN 0002165759.
↑ Jennings, Colin. "Eremophila: The Emu Bush". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
↑ Cochrane, Anne. "Seed notes for Western Australia: 5 - Eremophila" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 25 December 2015.

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[APC-1] 1 2 "Eremophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 November 2020.

[2] "Eremophila and Relatives". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 28 August 2024.

[Chinnock-3] 1 2 3 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. p. 180. ISBN 9781877058165.

[Buirchell-4] 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia. Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. ISBN 9780980348156.

[ANPSA-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Eremophila and Relatives". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

[moore-6] 1 2 3 4 Moore, P. (2005). Plants of Inland Australia. Reed New Holland. ISBN 187633486X.

[APNI-7] "Eremophila". APNI. Retrieved 9 September 2015.

[Brown-8] Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (Volume 1). London. p. 518. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

[Nuytsia-9] Brown, Andrew P.; Davis, Robert W. (2016). "Eremophila buirchellii and E. calcicola (Scrophulariaceae), two new species from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 27: 213–216.

[AOD-10] Moore, Bruce, ed. (2002). The Australian Oxford Dictionary (1999 ed.). South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press. p. 441. ISBN 0195507932.

[ANPSA(2)-11] "Eremophila alternifolia". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2015.

[:0-12] 1 2 Fowler, Rachael M.; Murphy, Daniel J.; McLay, Todd G.B.; Buirchell, Bevan J.; Chinnock, Robert J.; Bayly, Michael J. (June 2021). "Molecular phylogeny of tribe Myoporeae (Scrophulariaceae) using nuclear ribosomal DNA : Generic relationships and evidence for major clades". Taxon. 70 (3): 570–588. doi:10.1002/tax.12495. ISSN 0040-0262.

[Chinnock(2)-13] Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 228–229. ISBN 9781877058165.

[Boschen-14] 1 2 Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 13–27. ISBN 9781876473655.

[ANPSA(3)-15] "Eremophila and its Relatives - Propagation". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2015.

[Wrigley-16] Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 212. ISBN 0002165759.

[ANPSA(4)-17] Jennings, Colin. "Eremophila: The Emu Bush". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 22 December 2015.

[Cochrane-18] Cochrane, Anne. "Seed notes for Western Australia: 5 - Eremophila" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 25 December 2015.

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