Eremophila glabra

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Tar bush
Eremophila glabra flowers.JPG
Eremophila glabra in the Mount Annan Botanic Garden
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. glabra
Binomial name
Eremophila glabra
Synonyms [1]
Synonyms
  • CallistaLour.
  • Bondtia glaber A.D.Chapm. orth. var.
  • Bondtia glabra Kuntze orth. var.
  • Bontia glabra (R.Br.) Kuntze
  • Eremophila brownii F.Muell. nom. illeg., nom. superfl.
  • Eremophila brownii F.Muell. var. brownii
  • Eremophila grahamii F.Muell. nom. illeg.
  • Eremophila incana (Lindl.) F.Muell.
  • Pholidia brownii (F.Muell.) Wettst.
  • Stenochilus glaber(R.Br.
  • Stenochilus glaber R.Br. var. glaber
  • Stenochilus incanus Lindl.
  • Stenochilus viscosus Graham
E. glabra 'Murchison Magic' in Maranoa Gardens Eremophila glabra Murchison Magic.jpg
E. glabra 'Murchison Magic' in Maranoa Gardens
E. glabra subsp. carnosa from the coast near Geraldton Eremophila glabrosa carnosa (leaves and flowers).jpg
E. glabra subsp. carnosa from the coast near Geraldton
E. glabra subsp. South Coast - an undescribed subspecies Eremophila glabra South Coast (leaves and flowers).jpg
E. glabra subsp. South Coast - an undescribed subspecies
Eremophila glabra 'Murchison River orange' Eremophila glabra Murchison River orange flowers.jpg
Eremophila glabra 'Murchison River orange'
Eremophila glabra subsp. chlorella Eremophila glabra subsp. chlorella.jpg
Eremophila glabra subsp. chlorella

Eremophila glabra, commonly known as tar bush, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is sometimes a low, ground-hugging and sometimes an erect shrub. The leaves are variable in size and shape and there is a range of flower colours. In spite of its scientific name, not all forms of the plant are glabrous but most have many small, raised glands on the stems, flowers and leaves.

Contents

Description

Eremophila glabra grows to 0.1–3 m (0.3–10 ft) in height, sometimes a prostrate shrub and sometimes erect. The leaves are arranged alternately, sometimes crowded, other times sparse, usually lance-shaped but they may also be linear to egg-shaped. They are 7.5–61 mm (0.3–2 in) long and 0.8–18 mm (0.03–0.7 in) wide, the end pointed and the base tapering gradually towards the stem. The leaves and stems are covered with small, raised glands. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are red, orange, yellow or yellowish green, lack spots and are arranged singly or in pairs in the leaf axils on a stalk which is 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. There are 5 sepals which are narrow egg-shaped to triangular and of slightly differing lengths. The petals, which give the flowers their colour are 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and joined in a tube with 5 lobes at the end. The upper lobes are pointed and usually close together while the lower lip is blunt and bends backwards. There are four stamens which extend beyond the end of the petals. Flowering occurs between early autumn and summer (March to December in Australia) and is followed by fruit which are oval to almost spherical, about 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) in diameter, glabrous, dry or fleshy and dark brown. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who gave it the name Stenochilus glaber. The description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [6] [7] In 1921, Carl Hansen Ostenfeld changed the name to Eremophila glabra, publishing the change in the journal Biologiske meddelelser, Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab. [8]

Subspecies

The following names have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census ("APC") as at April 2020:

Andrew Brown and Bevan Buirchell also recognise subspecies not yet described but given the names Arrowsmith, Beverley, Diemals, Inland, Junana, Lake King, Lake Pinjarrega, Morawa, Rason Lake, Scaddan, South Coast, Wongan Hills and York. The APC accepts the names of most of those subspecies. [1] [3]

The specific epithet glabra is a Latin word meaning "smooth" or "hairless" [18] possibly referring to the hairless ovary of this species. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila occurs in all the mainland states of Australia. Subspecies glabra is the most widespread and it occurs in a wide range of soils and vegetation associations, although only in the drier areas of the continent. [2]

Conservation status

The species is not threatened however subspecies chlorella is classified as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [5] meaning that it is rare and in need of protection. [19]

Use in horticulture

Tar bush is one of the most variable species in the genus and the use of a number in one garden can give the impression of many different species. Most forms do not need a lot of maintenance apart from the occasional watering and light pruning. Propagation from seed is difficult but cuttings strike readily and preserve the features of the parent plant. It will grow in most soils, and in most positions from full sun to full shade. Most forms are drought tolerant and will survive most frosts although a few with hairy leaves will not tolerate high humidity. Eremophila glabra is popular in native gardens and a number of cultivars have been developed. A yellow flowered, prostrate form called "Kalbarri Carpet" is available as is the variety "Murchison Magic", a silvery-leaved form with red flowers. [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

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

Eremophila maculata, also known as spotted emu bush or spotted fuchsia-bush, is a plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is the most widespread of its genus in nature and probably the most frequently cultivated Eremophila. It is a spreading, often densely branched shrub with variable leaf shape and flower colour, but the other features of the flowers such as the size and shape of the parts are consistent. The inside of the flower is often, but not always, spotted.

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

Eremophila oldfieldii, commonly known as pixie bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with rough bark, broad, flat or narrow fleshy leaves and red, orange or yellow flowers.

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

Eremophila oppositifolia, commonly known as weeooka, twin-leaf emu bush and mountain sandalwood, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with its leaves arranged in opposite pairs and has cream to red or sometimes maroon coloured flowers. It occurs in all mainland states, but not the Northern Territory.

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

Eremophila latrobei, commonly known as crimson turkey bush, native fuchsia, Latrobe's emu bush, grey fuchsia bush, warty fuchsia bush and Georgina poison bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect, highly branched shrub with usually linear leaves and red to purple-red flowers and which occurs in all mainland states, including the Northern Territory but excluding Victoria.

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

Eremophila decipiens, commonly known as slender fuchsia bush or narrow-leaved fuchsia bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area extending from the south-west of Western Australia to southern parts of South Australia. It is low, sprawling shrub with lance-shaped leaves and red, orange or yellow flowers on a long, S-shaped stalk.

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

Eremophila denticulata, also known as toothed eremophila, toothed poverty bush and Fitzgerald eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with red flowers and leaves that have toothed margins.

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

Eremophila fraseri, commonly known as burra or jilarnu, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with all above-ground parts of the plant, apart from the petals, sticky and shiny due to the presence of a large amount of resin. The petals are coloured white, cream, pink and brown.

Eremophila compacta, commonly known as compact poverty bush, 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.

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

Eremophila densifolia is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is usually a low, spreading shrub with densely clustered leaves and lilac to purple flowers.

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

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.

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

Eremophila jucunda is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small to medium-sized shrub with hairy branches and leaves, lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves and cream-coloured, lilac or purple flowers.

<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 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.

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.

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.

Eremophila verrucosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is an erect, broom-shaped shrub with its leaves and branches covered with yellow-grey scales and lilac to purple flowers.

<i>Eremophila glabra <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> albicans</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is similar to other shrubs in the species Eremophila glabra but it distinguished from them by its usually grey, felty leaves, dull yellow, orange or red flowers with hairy sepals, growing in sandy soils on dunes and limestone outcrops between Bunbury and Shark Bay.

<i>Eremophila glabra <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> carnosa</i> Subspecies of flowering plant

Eremophila glabra subsp. carnosa is a plant in the family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is similar to other shrubs in the species Eremophila glabra but is distinguished from them mainly by its narrow elliptic to lance-shaped leaves and by the type and arrangement of hairs on its leaves and branches. It is found in coastal areas between Leeman and Gregory.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eremophila glabra". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 579–593. 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. 117–137. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 "Eremophila glabra (R.Br.) Ostenf". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Eremophila glabra". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. "Stenochilus glaber". APNI. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  7. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (Volume 10). London. p. 517. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  8. "Eremophila glabra". APNI. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  9. "Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  10. "Eremophila glabra subsp. carnosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  11. "Eremophila glabra subsp. chlorella". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  12. "Eremophila glabra subsp. elegans". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. "Eremophila glabra subsp. glabra". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  14. "Eremophila glabra subsp. murrayana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  15. "Eremophila glabra subsp. psammophora". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  16. "Eremophila glabra subsp. tomentosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  17. "Eremophila glabra subsp. verrucosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  18. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 122.
  19. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  20. "Eremophila glabra". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  21. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 101–105. ISBN   9781876473655.