Eremophila compressa

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Eremophila compressa
Eremophila compressa 01.jpg
E. compressa growing near Salmon Gums
Status DECF P3.svg
Priority Three — 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. compressa
Binomial name
Eremophila compressa

Eremophila compressa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub whose leaves have 2 or 3 prominent teeth near their ends, and white or cream-coloured flowers.

Contents

Description

Eremophila compressa is an erect, open shrub which usually grows to between 0.8 and 2 m (3 and 7 ft) high with branches that are glabrous but have many warty lumps and are sticky towards their ends due to the presence of resin. The leaves are arranged alternately and point upwards so that they often obscure the branches. They are green, often with a purple tinge, elliptic to egg-shaped, mostly 8–16 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long, 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide, and have 2 or 3 prominent teeth near their ends. [2] [3]

The flowers appear singly or in pairs in leaf axils on stalks 1–3.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long. There are 5 narrow triangular, glabrous green sepals, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long. The petals are 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white to cream-coloured, glabrous on the outside but the inside of the tube is filled with long soft hairs and the top of the bottom lobe is also hairy. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs mostly from July to December and is followed by fruits which are oval-shaped, glabrous and about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. [2] [3]

E. compressa habit on disturbed roadside Eremophila compressa 02.jpg
E. compressa habit on disturbed roadside

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 1986 and the description was published in Nuytsia . [4] The type specimen was collected by Chinnock north of Salmon Gums. [2] [4] The specific epithet (compressa) is a Latin word meaning "compressed" [5] referring to the compressed shape of the fruits. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila occurs between Ravensthorpe, Grasspatch and Norseman [2] [3] in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions [6] where it usually grows in disturbed clay or sandy loam soils. [2] [7]

Conservation status

Eremophila compressa is classified as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, [6] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [8]

Use in horticulture

In cultivation this eremophila grows to 2 m (7 ft) high and almost as wide. It flowers over a long period and its open, spindly growth form is a feature. It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum species, grows in most soils in full sun or partial shade, is frost tolerant and reasonably drought resistant. [9]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

Eremophila spinescens is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, rigid, spiny shrub with small leaves and lilac to dark purple flowers.

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

Eremophila spuria is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with narrow leaves and blue, lilac, purple or white flowers and is a common and widespread species.

References

  1. "Eremophila compressa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. 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. 187–188. 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. 66. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 "Eremophila compressa". APNI. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 630.
  6. 1 2 "Eremophila compressa". 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. 334. ISBN   0646402439.
  8. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  9. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 78–79. ISBN   9781876473655.