Eremophila dichroantha

Last updated

Bale-hook eremophila
Eremophila dichroantha (leaves and flowers).jpg
Eremophila dichroantha 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. dichroantha
Binomial name
Eremophila dichroantha
Synonyms [1]

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.

Contents

Description

Eremophila dichroantha is an erect shrub with many ascending branches which, although glabrous, have many raised glands. It grows to a height of 0.5–3 m (2–10 ft) and the ends of the branches and younger leaves are shiny and sticky due to the presence of resin. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems and are linear to almost needle-shaped, mostly 5–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide with a curved, hooked tip on the end. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are borne in groups of 3 to 5 in leaf axils on a stalk which is 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and sticky when young. There are 5 overlapping, egg-shaped to lance-shaped, brownish sepals which are 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. The sepals are glabrous except for the long hairs on their edges, are sticky and remain on the plant long after flowering has finished. The petals are 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. They are a shade of violet to lilac-coloured, rarely white on the outside and white with violet spots inside the tube. The petal lobes are hairy on the outside and have short, flattened hairs on the inside. The petal tube is mostly glabrous on the outside while the inside of the tube is filled with long, spidery hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from August to November and is followed by fruit which are oval-shaped, hairy and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. [2] [3] [5]

E. dichroantha growing east of Ravensthorpe Eremophila dichroantha (habit).jpg
E. dichroantha growing east of Ravensthorpe

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. [6] [7] The specific epithet (dichroantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words δίχρως (díkhrōs) meaning “two-coloured” [8] :219 and ἄνθος (ánthos) meaning “flower”. [8] :338

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila is widespread and locally common between Balladonia, Esperance and Lake King [3] including the Cape Arid and Norseman areas [4] in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. [9]

Conservation status

Eremophila dichroantha is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [9]

Use in horticulture

This eremophila is attractive with its arching branches and masses of blue to purple flowers in spring, followed by persistent sepals. It is difficult to grow from cuttings and seed but can be propagated more easily by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock. It will grow in most soils and in full sun or partial shade, is drought and frost resistant but should only be lightly pruned. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Eucalyptus eremophila</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus eremophila, commonly known as the sand mallet or tall sand mallee, is a species of mallet that is endemic to semi-arid regions of Western Australia. It has smooth pale brown and greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped to elliptical adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of between seven and eleven with an elongated operculum, and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Kunzea jucunda</i>

Kunzea jucunda is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia where it occurs on sandy or rocky soils of undulating plains. It is similar to Kunzea affinis and where the ranges of the two species overlap, hybrids occur.

<i>Melaleuca cliffortioides</i>

Melaleuca cliffortioides is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, prickly shrub very similar to Melaleuca podiocarpa but with fewer stamens in the flowers.

<i>Melaleuca depressa</i>

Melaleuca depressa is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, bushy shrub with clusters of yellow or cream flowers on the ends of its branches in spring.

<i>Regelia cymbifolia</i>

Regelia cymbifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a much branched shrub bearing tiny, wedge shaped leaves and clusters of deep pink to purple flowers on the ends of its branches in spring.

<i>Isopogon alcicornis</i> Species of shrub that is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia

Isopogon alcicornis, commonly known as the elkhorn coneflower, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to part of the south coast of Western Australia. It is a low shrub with pinnately-lobed leaves and oval heads of hairy, white or pink flowers.

<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 calorhabdos</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila calorhabdos, commonly known as red rod or spiked eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a distinctive shrub with erect, rod-like branches up to 2.5 m (8 ft) high, leaves with small teeth along the edges, and flowers that change from orange to lipstick pink as they open.

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

Eremophila chamaephila, commonly known as earth-loving poverty bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, dense, spreading shrub with small, fleshy leaves and mauve to purple flowers.

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

Eremophila georgei is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a common, widespread shrub in central areas of the state, often growing on rocky ridges and hillsides and has serrated leaves and mauve, purple or pink flowers.

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

Eremophila interstans is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub or small tree found in Western Australia and South Australia and has narrow leaves with a hooked end, and white or cream-coloured flowers.

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

Eremophila ionantha is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with many sticky branches, narrow, light green leaves and blue, purple or violet flowers.

<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.

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

Eremophila psilocalyx is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with a broom-like shape, narrow, hooked leaves and white, pink, blue or purple flowers. It is common in the mallee country around Esperance. It was sometimes incorrectly known as Eremophila pachyphylla.

Verticordia muelleriana is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an openly branched shrub with relatively large, egg-shaped to circular leaves and long spikes of deep maroon coloured flowers in spring and early summer.

Verticordia stenopetala is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low shrub with small leaves and heads of pink to magenta-coloured flowers in late spring and early summer.

<i>Kunzea montana</i>

Kunzea montana, commonly known as mountain kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with more or less round leaves and heads of cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers on the ends of the branches in late spring. It is an uncommon species, growing on rocky mountain slopes, but all populations are conserved in the Stirling Range National Park.

Goodenia eremophila is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is an ascending herb with linear to elliptic leaves and thyrses of blue flowers.

<i>Teucrium eremaeum</i>

Teucrium eremaeum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a perennial herb or shrub with small, linear to lance-shaped leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.

Teucrium myriocladum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with small, hairy leaves and creamy-green flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila dichroantha". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 211–213. 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. 88. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 Archer, William. "Eremophila dichroantha". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 39. ISBN   9781876473655.
  6. ↑ "Eremophila dichroantha". APNI. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Diels, Ludwig; Pritzel, Ernst Georg (1905). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35: 541–542. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  8. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. 1 2 "Eremophila dichroantha". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
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.