Eremophila compacta

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Eremophila compacta
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. compacta
Binomial name
Eremophila compacta

Eremophila compacta, commonly known as compact poverty bush, [2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the central west of Western Australia. There are two distinct subspecies differing in their growth habit but both have grey leaves due to a covering of white or grey hairs, and purple to blue, rarely white flowers.

Contents

Description

Eremophila compacta is an erect shrub usually growing to about 0.4–1.5 m (1–5 ft) high with rough stems due to raised leaf bases. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are lance-shaped or egg-shaped, mostly 9–22 mm (0.4–0.9 in) long and 2.5–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. [3] [4]

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a straight stalk 4.5–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. There are 5 lance-shaped, pointed, hairy, green to brownish-purple sepals, 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long. The petals are 19–27.5 mm (0.7–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube and the lobes are purple to lilac-coloured on the outside and the tube is white inside and filled with long spidery and woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering time depends on subspecies and the fruits that follow it are covered with sticky resin, oval-shaped, flattened and 5.5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Spencer Le Marchant Moore in 1921 and the description was published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign . [5] [6] The type specimen was collected by "Miss Brown" at "Yalgoo on redsoil hills or flats". [5] [6] The specific epithet (compacta) refers to the growth habit of the type species. [3]

In his monograph, Eremophila and allied genera, Robert Chinnock described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Subspecies fecunda usually has blue petals but can have pink or white flowers and is a softer-looking shrub. [9]

The specific epithet is derived from the "Latin compacta, close together". The epithet fecunda is derived from the "Latin fecunda, fruitful, fertile; referring to the abundance of this subspecies". [3]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila compacta occurs near and between Carnarvon, Cue, Paynes Find, Murchison and Mount Augustus [4] in the Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions [10] where it grows in red sandy or clay soils. [11]

Conservation status

Eremophila compacta is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [10]

Use in horticulture

Compact poverty bush has attractive silvery-grey foliage and pink to purple flowers. It is suitable for gardens in dry inland areas but also thrives in coastal areas including near Sydney. It is usually propagated from cuttings. It is drought resistant and prefers full sun but a well-drained soil is essential. It will tolerate light frosts and responds to regular pruning with a more compact shape. [9]

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

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

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

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

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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

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<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.

References

  1. "Eremophila compacta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. "Eremophila compacta". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 505–507. ISBN   9781877058165.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. pp. 63–64. ISBN   9780980348156.
  5. 1 2 "Eremophila compacta". APNI. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 Moore, Spencer Le Marchant (1921). "Alabastra Diversa". The Journal of Botany. 59: 246. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. "Eremophila compacta subsp. compacta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. "Eremophila compacta subsp. fecunda". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. 1 2 Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 76–77. ISBN   9781876473655.
  10. 1 2 "Eremophila compacta". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 334. ISBN   0646402439.