Eremophila granitica

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Granite poverty bush
Eremophila granitica.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. granitica
Binomial name
Eremophila granitica

Eremophila granitica, commonly known as granite poverty bush [2] and thin-leaved poverty bush [3] 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.

Contents

Description

Eremophila granitica is an erect, open or straggling shrub which grows to a height of between 0.5 and 2.5 m (2 and 8 ft) with sticky, wrinkled, shiny branches. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems and are mostly 16–38 mm (0.6–1 in) long, 0.8–1.5 mm (0.03–0.06 in) wide, linear, sometimes with a few small teeth along the edges. They are also shiny and sticky and have small, raised glands on their surface. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a flattened, S-shaped stalk 10–35 mm (0.4–1 in) long. There are 5 lance-shaped, sticky, shiny green to purple sepals, differing in size from each other, mostly 10–15.5 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long but often enlarging after flowering. The petals are 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is a shade of lilac or pinkish-lilac on the outside and white, spotted with orange-brown inside. The outside of the tube and petal lobes are hairy but the inside of the lobes is glabrous and the inside of the tube is woolly. The centre part of the lower petal lobe closes the opening of the petal tube. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from March to November and is followed by fruits which are dry, woody, oval-shaped with a pointed end, hairy and about 7 mm (0.3 in) long. [3] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1899 by Spencer Le Marchant Moore and the description was published in Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany . [4] [5] The specific epithet (granitica) is a Latin word meaning "granitic" or "living on granite soil", [6] referring to the habitat of this species. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila granitica is widespread and common between Kalgoorlie and Murchison in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. [2] [7] [8] It grows in sand, or clay on granite rocks, ironstone hills and flat areas. [2]

Ecology

The native bee Leioproctus lanceolatus has been observed pollinating E. granitica. [9]

Conservation status

Eremophila granitica is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

Use in horticulture

Some forms of this eremophila are rarely without flowers and some specimens have been in cultivation for more than 30 years. It is a hardy shrub and needs little attention. It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting but plants grown on their own roots need to be grown in light to medium soils. It can grow in full sun or partial shade, is both drought and frost tolerant and responds well to even harsh pruning when provided with water. [10]

Related Research Articles

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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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Eremophila homoplastica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with many fine, tangled branches, tiny leaves and purple to lilac-coloured flowers.

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

Eremophila incisa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low shrub with shiny leaves which have thickened teeth along their edges and hairy, mauve or purple 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 margarethae</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila margarethae, commonly known as sandbank poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with grey leaves, flowers a shade of pink or purple, common in central areas of Western Australia.

Eremophila metallicorum, commonly known as miners poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves and lilac-coloured flowers on an S-shaped stalk.

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 prolata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with a rounded top, prominently ridged, hairy branches, narrow leaves and white to deep lilac-coloured flowers.

Eremophila pungens is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect, sticky shrub with broad, serrated-edged leaves which end in a sharp spine and purple or violet flowers.

<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.

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

Eremophila veronica, commonly known as veronica-like eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with small, crowded leaves and lilac-coloured flowers which have a short petal tube and spreading petal lobes.

References

  1. ↑ "Eremophila granitica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 144. ISBN   9780980348156.
  3. 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. 361–363. ISBN   9781877058165.
  4. ↑ "Eremophila granitica". APNI. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Moore, Spencer Le Marchant (1899). "The Botanical Results of a Journey into the Interior of Western Australia". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany. 34: 214–215. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 210. ISBN   9780958034180.
  7. 1 2 "Eremophila granitica". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  8. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue . Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 337. ISBN   0646402439.
  9. ↑ "Native lanceolatus colletid". Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  10. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 107–108. ISBN   9781876473655.
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