| Eremophila falcata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. falcata |
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila falcata | |
Eremophila falcata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a widely distributed shrub with distinctive curved leaves and white, lilac-coloured or pink flowers.
Eremophila falcata is an erect shrub with sticky, shiny foliage growing to a height of between 1 and 4 m (3 and 10 ft). Its leaves are thick, firm, glabrous, curved or sickle-shaped, usually 19–31 mm (0.7–1 in) long and 1–6.5 mm (0.04–0.3 in) wide. [2] [3]
The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to 4 on a stalk 2.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. There are 5 sticky, shiny green to yellowish sepals which are mostly 2–5.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and egg-shaped to spoon-shaped. The petals are 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petals are white to a shade of pink or lilac with the lowest lobe of the tube brownish-yellow. The outside of the tube and petal lobes are covered with hairs and the inside surface of the lobes is glabrous apart from the central part of the lowest lobe. Long, soft hairs cover the lowest lobe and fill the inside of the petal tube. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering mainly occurs from September to November and is followed by fruits which are oval shaped to almost spherical but with a pointed end. The fruits are hairy, sticky and 2.7–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. [2] [3]
The species was first formally described in 1980 by Robert Chinnock and the description was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. [4] [5] The specific epithet (falcata) is derived a Latin word meaning "curved like a sickle" referring to the leaf shape. [6] [2]
Eremophila falcata is common and widespread in the Eremaean botanical province. It often grows in calcareous soils on stony hills and plains. [2] [3] [7] [8]
Eremophila falcata is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]
Unusual leaf shape is a feature of this eremophila but it also produces a massed display of perfumed flowers from late spring to mid-summer. White-flowered forms appear to be covered with snow when in flower. It can be propagated from seed, from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and will grow in a wide range of soils and aspects. It will survive a drought with only occasional watering and is very tolerant to frost. [9]
Eremophila freelingii, commonly known as limestone fuchsia or rock fuchsia bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub with sticky, hairy, lance-shaped leaves and flowers a shade of light to dark lilac and which occurs in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
Eremophila deserti is a shrub which is endemic to Australia. Common names for this species include turkey bush, dogwood, poison bushEllangowan poison bush, pencil bush and carrot bush. It is common and widespread in all mainland states, although not the Northern Territory. Some forms are poisonous to stock.
Eremophila gibsonii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a sticky, glabrous, rounded shrub with narrow leaves and white to lilac-coloured flowers and which occurs in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Eremophila linsmithii is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is an erect shrub, branching from the base with narrow, sticky leaves, and white to pale lilac-coloured flowers and is found only in the south west corner of the state.
Eremophila glutinosa, commonly known as sticky emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, densely foliaged shrub with branches and leaves sticky and shiny due to the presence of resin. It has hairy sepals and lilac-coloured flowers.
Eremophila gracillima is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with narrow leaves which have their edges folded under, and lilac to violet flowers. It is restricted to an area near Mount Vernon.
Eremophila granitica, commonly known as granite poverty bush and thin-leaved poverty bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with sticky, narrow leaves and with lilac-coloured flowers.
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.
Eremophila labrosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with many hairy branches arising from near ground level, narrow, hooked leaves and mauve and blue flowers.
Eremophila lanceolata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with foliage which is shiny when young, angular branches and lilac to purple flowers and which grows in the north-west of Western Australia.
Eremophila lehmanniana is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub, usually with short, wide, serrated leaves and white to lilac-coloured flowers. It occurs in the south west of Western Australia.
Eremophila linearis, commonly known as harlequin fuchsia bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with long leaves, sticky, shiny leaves and branches and bright red flowers
Eremophila pendulina is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a tall, spindly, weeping shrub with narrow leaves and purple, mauve or white flowers in autumn and early spring.
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.
Eremophila phillipsii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a tall, erect, open shrub, with narrow leaves and lilac to purple flowers which are white with purple spots inside. It often has an offensive smell.
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.
Eremophila punctata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with sticky young branches and leaves due to the presence of resin. Its small leaves usually have a few blunt teeth near their ends and flowers which are usually lilac-coloured. It is a distinctive and widespread species.
Eremophila sargentii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with sticky, shiny foliage, small leaves and mauve or blue flowers.
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.
Eremophila viscimarginata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, erect, prickly shrub with hairy stems, small leaves, greenish-pink sepals and mauve petals.