Eremophila caespitosa

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Felty-leaved eremophila
Eremophila caespitosa (leaves and flowers).jpg
E. caespitosa leaves and flowers
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. caespitosa
Binomial name
Eremophila caespitosa
Chinnock [1]

Eremophila caespitosa, commonly known as felty-leaved eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area near the centre of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with a tuft-like habit, very hairy grey leaves and lilac to purple flowers.

Contents

Description

Eremophila caespitosa is a small, compact shrub with branches spreading at ground level. It grows to a height of 10–20 cm (0.3–0.7 ft) and a spread of up to 40 cm (1 ft). The leaves are arranged alternately, clustered near the ends of the branches and are mostly 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide. They are linear in shape with the edges rolled under and are densely covered with soft hairs giving a grey appearance to the foliage. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a stalk 2.5–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and which is densely covered with soft hairs. There are 5 densely hairy, linear or lance-shaped, green sepals which are 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long. The petals are 16–22.5 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tube is a shade of lilac to purple on the outside and white with faint lilac-coloured spots inside. There are scattered hairs on the outside of the tube and the inside is filled with spidery hairs. The 4 stamens are enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering mostly occurs from June to October and is followed by fruits which are dry, oval-shaped and 7–10.5 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. [2] [3]

E. caespitosa growing near Newman Eremophila caespitosa (habit).jpg
E. caespitosa growing near Newman
E. caespitosa showing the densely hairy sepals Eremophila caespitosa (sepals).jpg
E. caespitosa showing the densely hairy sepals

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 2007 and the description was published in Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. [4] The type specimen was collected by Chinnock about 72 kilometres (40 mi) south east of Mount Vernon. [4] The specific epithet (caespitosa) is a Latin word meaning "growing in tufts", referring to the habit of this species. [4] [2] [5]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila occurs between Mount Augustus, Newman and Wiluna in the Gascoyne, Murchison and Pilbara biogeographic regions [6] where it grows on stony flats. [2] [3] [7]

Conservation status

Eremophila caespitosa is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Use in horticulture

Felty-leaved eremophila is an ideal small shrub for a container or rockery with its silvery foliage and lilac-coloured flowers. It can be propagated from cuttings or grafted onto Myoporum species. Full sun and well-drained soils are preferred and the plant is drought resistant but is killed by frost. [8]

Related Research Articles

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

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References

  1. ↑ "Eremophila caespitosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  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. 527–528. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 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. 52. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 3 "Eremophila caespitosa". APNI. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 154. ISBN   9780958034180.
  6. 1 2 "Eremophila caespitosa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 333. ISBN   0646402439.
  8. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 191–192. ISBN   9781876473655.
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