Eremophila arachnoides

Last updated

Eremophila arachnoides
Status DECF P1.svg
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. arachnoides
Binomial name
Eremophila arachnoides

Eremophila arachnoides is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a few arid areas of Western Australia and South Australia. It is a little-known, broom-shaped shrub with white to mauve, trumpet-shaped flowers which are densely hairy on the inside.

Contents

Description

Eremophila arachnoides grows to a height of 4 metres (10 ft) and a width of 3 metres (10 ft) with leaves and stems densely covered with short, soft hairs. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs at almost 90° to the stem, mostly 20–32 mm (0.79–1.3 in) long, 0.7–1 mm (0.03–0.04 in) wide, linear, oval in cross section or almost circular with the upper surface having a channel in the centre. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on stalks 1–3.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long. There are 5 triangular sepals which are similar in size to each other and are about 0.8–2 mm (0.03–0.08 in) long. The tube formed by the petals is 15–24 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and is white to pale pink, blue or mauve on the outside with yellow or purple spots on the inside. The inside and outside of the tube as well as the lobes are densely hairy. The petals lobes are pointed and are all equal in length. There are four stamens which do not extend beyond the end of the tube. Flowering occurs between August and December and is followed by fruit which is soft and an oval shape, about 5 mm–7 mm × 3.5 mm–5.5 mm (0.2 in–0.3 in × 0.1 in–0.2 in) and changes colour from pale green to a delicate pink as it matures. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 1979 and the description was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. The type specimen was collected by Chinnock about 17 kilometres (10 mi) south east of Yarrabubba homestead. The specific epithet is from Latin, meaning 'cobwebby', alluding to the long hairs in the corolla tube. [2] [5] [6]

Two subspecies are recognised by the Australian Plant Census:

The epithet tenera is from the Latin meaning 'slender', referring to the long, slender leaves. [2] [6] [10]

Distribution and habitat

Subspecies arachnoides occurs in small, isolated areas east of Kumarina in the Murchison biogeographic region where it grows in shallow limestone soils. [11] [12] Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera occurs mainly in scattered places in the west of South Australia but there are also disjunct populations central Western Australia. This subspecies grows in red loamy soils on calcrete. [12] [13]

Conservation status

Subspecies arachnoides is classified as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife [11] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [14] Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera is classified as "Priority One" [13] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.

Use in horticulture

This eremophila has attractive foliage and flowers and the coloured fruits add to its appeal. It tolerates a wide variety of soils and prefers full sun although it will grow in partial shade and is very drought tolerant and frost resistant. It can be propagated from cuttings which may take several months to form roots and it can also be grafted onto Myoporum . After a few years, light pruning can be used to keep its shape compact. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Eremophila youngii</i> Species of tree

Eremophila youngii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense, erect shrub with many of its parts covered with a layer of grey to yellowish-grey scales and with pink, purple or red flowers.

<i>Eremophila decipiens</i> Species of plant

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.

<i>Eremophila mackinlayi</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila mackinlayi, commonly known as desert pride, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with its branches and leaves covered with a thick layer of yellow to grey hairs, mostly egg-shaped leaves and deep lilac-coloured to purple flowers. It is most closely related to E. strongylophylla and E. hygrophana and sometimes occurs in the same areas as these species.

<i>Eremophila caerulea</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila caerulea, commonly 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 a low, compact, spreading shrub with narrow, warty, cylindrical leaves and blue to purple flowers.

<i>Eremophila flaccida</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila flaccida is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with sticky, shiny foliage and large, attractive flowers. There are two subspecies, one common and relatively widespread, the other known from only a few locations.

<i>Eremophila forrestii</i> Species of plant

Eremophila forrestii, commonly known as Wilcox bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a many-branched shrub with its branches, leaves and sepals densely-covered with a thick layer of greyish or yellowish hairs giving the plant a felty appearance. Its flowers are cream-coloured to pink and are spotted or streaked dark red. It occurs mostly in Western Australia but also in the far west of South Australia and the Northern Territory. Six subspecies are recognised by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

<i>Eremophila incisa</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila incisa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low shrub with shiny leaves which have thickened teeth along their edges and hairy, mauve or purple flowers.

<i>Eremophila jucunda</i> Species of plant

Eremophila jucunda is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small to medium-sized shrub with hairy branches and leaves, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves and cream-coloured, lilac or purple flowers.

<i>Eremophila magnifica</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila magnifica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with large, clustered leaves and large, attractive lilac-coloured or purple flowers, sometimes so densely clustered that they appear like compound heads of terminal flowers.

<i>Eremophila obovata</i> Species of plant

Eremophila obovata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a low, compact shrub with lilac to purple flowers growing mainly in the Northern Territory and Queensland but also Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.

<i>Eremophila parvifolia</i> Species of plant

Eremophila parvifolia is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub which has small, usually egg-shaped leaves and blackish flower buds which open to purple flowers which are white with purple spots inside. There are two subspecies, both of which are found in Western Australia and one which is also found in South Australia.

Eremophila perglandulosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub which has small leaves with many glandular hairs and mauve or purple flowers.

Eremophila petrophila is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a tall, erect, open shrub with rough branches, narrow, sticky leaves and pale lilac-coloured flowers.

<i>Eremophila phyllopoda</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila phyllopoda is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub, sometimes round or flat-topped with sticky, hairy leaves and flowers ranging in colour from pink or lilac to purple.

<i>Eremophila platythamnos</i> Species of plant

Eremophila platythamnos, commonly known as desert foxglove, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect shrub with short, broad leaves and purple, mauve, blue or pink flowers.

Eremophila shonae is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub or a low spreading shrub, depending on subspecies and has very sticky branches and leaves due to the presence of large amounts of resin. The leaves are narrow and the flowers are mauve to purple and white inside with purple spots.

Eremophila simulans is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with broad, serrated leaves and violet to purple flowers.

<i>Eremophila spectabilis</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Eremophila willsii</i> Species of plant

Eremophila willsii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect shrub with bright green, often serrated leaves and pinkish to deep pinkish-purple petals. It is mainly found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia in deep sand.

<i>Eremophila jucunda <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> pulcherrima</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Eremophila jucunda subsp. pulcherrima is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with grey, hairy leaves and sepals and blue or mauve flowers often growing in stony places. It is similar to subspecies jucunda but is distinguished from it by its grey new growth and more northerly distribution.

References

  1. ↑ "Eremophila arachnoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 439–441. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 39. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 3 Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 32. ISBN   9781876473655.
  5. ↑ "Eremophila arachnoides". APNI. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 Chinnock, Robert J. (1979). "Ten new species of Eremophila (Myoporaceae) from Central and Western Australia". Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 1 (4): 257–259.
  7. ↑ "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. arachnoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  8. ↑ "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. arachnoides". APNI. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera". APNI. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. arachnoides". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  12. 1 2 Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 333. ISBN   0646402439.
  13. 1 2 "Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  14. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.