Eremophila flaccida

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Eremophila flaccida
Eremophila flaccida (habit).jpg
Eremophila flaccida flaccida growing near Mount Augustus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. flaccida
Binomial name
Eremophila flaccida

Eremophila flaccida is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with sticky, shiny foliage and large, attractive flowers. There are two subspecies, one common and relatively widespread, the other known from only a few locations.

Contents

Description

Eremophila flaccida is a shrub, usually growing to less than 1.0 m (3 ft) tall, but often spreading to 3 or 4 m (9.8 or 13 ft) wide with branches and leaves which are sticky and shiny due to the presence of large amounts of resin. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, egg-shaped, 30–95 mm (1–4 in) long, 4–30 mm (0.2–1 in) wide, glabrous, sticky and shiny. They usually have a distinct stalk 12–24 mm (0.5–0.9 in) long, a raised mid-rib on the lower surface and sometimes have a few teeth on their edges. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils from which they hang on a glabrous stalk 30–45 mm (1–2 in) long. There are 5 overlapping, reddish-purple, egg-shaped sepals which differ in size from each other, the longest ones 24–31 mm (0.94–1.2 in) while the shortest is 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long. The outer surface of the sepals is hairy and the inner surface glabrous. The petals are 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tube is brown but the petal lobes on its end purplish-blue and up to 20 mm (0.8 in) long, with two of the lobes spreading like rabbits' ears. The outer surface of the tube and both sides of the lobes are covered with short hairs and the inside of the tube is full of long, soft hairs. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs from June to September and is followed by fruits which are dry, oval shaped with a pointed end and 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) long. [2] [3]

E. flaccida flaccida leaves and flowers Eremophila flaccida (leaves and flowers).jpg
E. flaccida flaccida leaves and flowers

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] [2] The specific epithet (flaccida) is a Latin word meaning "drooping" [5] referring to the hanging flowers of this species. [2]

In the same publication, Chinnock described two subspecies and the names have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila flaccida subsp. flaccida grows in stony clay and is common in areas near the Hamersley Range, including Mount Augustus in the Gascoyne and Pilbara biogeographic regions. [2] [8] [9] Subspecies attenuata is much less common, occurring in a few locations between Byro Station and Dairy Creek Station in the Murchison biogeographic region. [2] [3] [9] [10]

Conservation status

Eremophila flaccida subsp. flaccida is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [8] however subspecies attenuata is classified as "Priority Three" [10] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [11]

Use in horticulture

The rounded shape of this eremophila and its large orchid-like flowers make it a desirable plant for the garden. It is very difficult to propagate from either seed or cuttings but can be grafted onto Myoporum rootstock. Its method of propagation allows it to grow in any soil and it will grow in full sun or partial shade, is very drought tolerant but is affected by frost. Frost may blacken the plant but it usually recovers its leaves and rounded shape. [12]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

Eremophila magnifica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with large, clustered leaves and large, attractive lilac-coloured or purple flowers, sometimes so densely clustered that they appear like compound heads of terminal flowers.

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

Eremophila obovata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a low, compact shrub with lilac to purple flowers growing mainly in the Northern Territory and Queensland but also Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.

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

Eremophila paisleyi is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a rounded, broom-shaped shrub with white or lilac-coloured flowers which occurs in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

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

Eremophila parvifolia is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub which has small, usually egg-shaped leaves and blackish flower buds which open to purple flowers which are white with purple spots inside. There are two subspecies, both of which are found in Western Australia and one which is also found in South Australia.

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.

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

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.

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

Eremophila platycalyx is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with its branches and leaves covered with a layer of matted hairs, although the hairs are sometimes obscured by resin. The shape of the leaves is variable, depending on subspecies, the sepals are often brightly coloured and the petals are cream-coloured, sometimes spotted on the outside. Two subspecies have been described but others have been discovered although not as yet formally described.

<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.

Eremophila rostrata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with cylinder-shaped leaves, small sepals and glabrous, pink to deep red petals. There are two subspecies, both of which are critically endangered.

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

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 shonae is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub or a low spreading shrub, depending on subspecies and has very sticky branches and leaves due to the presence of large amounts of resin. The leaves are narrow and the flowers are mauve to purple and white inside with purple spots.

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

Eremophila spectabilis, commonly known as showy poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense, erect shrub with narrow, greyish leaves and blue, mauve or purple flowers.

<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 flaccida". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 633–637. 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. pp. 101–102. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. "Eremophila flaccida". APNI. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 725.
  6. "Eremophila flaccida subsp. flaccida". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  7. "Eremophila flaccida subsp. attenuata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Eremophila flaccida subsp. flaccida". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  9. 1 2 Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue . Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 335. ISBN   0646402439.
  10. 1 2 "Eremophila flaccida subsp. attenuata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  12. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 200–202. ISBN   9781876473655.