Eremophila oppositifolia

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Weeooka
Eremophila oppositifolia (leaf, flower, fruit).JPG
Subspecies angustifolia near Wongan Hills
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. oppositifolia
Binomial name
Eremophila oppositifolia
Synonyms [1]
Subspecies rubra Eremophila oppositifolia ssp. rubra 02.jpg
Subspecies rubra

Eremophila oppositifolia, commonly known as weeooka, twin-leaf emu bush and mountain sandalwood, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Eremophila oppositifolia is a shrub or small tree which grows to a height of 1–5 metres (3–20 ft), sometimes to 10 metres (30 ft). Its branches, leaves and flower stalks are covered with a layer of fine hairs pressed against the surface. The branches are rough due to persistent leaf bases and sometimes become glabrous with age. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the branches and are linear to almost cylindrical in shape and often have a hooked end. They are 29–120 millimetres (1–5 in) long, 0.9–7 millimetres (0.04–0.3 in) wide, covered with fine hairs pressed against the surface and the young leaves also have yellowish glandular hairs on the lower surface. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to 4 in leaf axils on hairy stalks 3–10.5 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. There are 5 hairy, spoon-shaped to lance-shaped sepals which are mostly 7–18 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and which are cream-coloured or brown. The petals are mostly 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is cream-coloured with a pink tinge, pink, red or (rarely) maroon. The tube and its lobes are glabrous apart from the margins of the lobes, and the inside of the tube which is hairy. The 4 stamens extend slightly beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs from winter to early summer [3] and the fruits which follow are oval to cylindrical in shape and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Subspecies angustifolia near Meekatharra Eremophila oppositifolia angustifolia (habit).jpg
Subspecies angustifolia near Meekatharra
Subspecies angustifolia leaves and flowers Eremophila oppositifolia angustifolia.jpg
Subspecies angustifolia leaves and flowers

Taxonomy and naming

The first formal description of this species was published by botanist Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae . [7] [8] The specific epithet (oppositifolia) is derived from the Latin words oppositus meaning "on the other side" or "contrary" [9] :73 and folia meaning "leaves". [9] :94

The names of three subspecies are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Distribution

Subspecies oppositifolia is widespread and common from the Eyre Peninsula and Gawler Ranges in South Australia eastwards to south-western New South Wales and north-western Victoria in clay-loam in woodland and shrubland. Subspecies angustifolia is widespread and common in Western Australia and in isolated locations in South Australia, growing in a range of soils in mulga and Eucalyptus woodland. Subspecies rubra is found from western Queensland to western and central New South Wales west of Condobolin, usually growing in woodland. [2] [3]

Use in horticulture

This large eremophila has attractive foliage and the colourful sepals extend its flowering period. It is a good feature plant but can also be used as a windbreak or screening plant. Propagation from cuttings is easy and the shrub will grow in a wide range of soils, including clay in either full sun or partial shade. It will tolerate long droughts but occasional watering will help to ensure a good flowering season. Light frosts are tolerated without damage but heavy frosts may cause the loss of leaves. [13] [14]

Conservation

Weeooka is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [15]

Related Research Articles

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

Eremophila hughesii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is spindly, glabrous shrub with narrow leaves and with flowers that vary in colour from blue to pink, sometimes white. It is native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

<i>Myoporum platycarpum</i> Species of plant

Myoporum platycarpum, known by several common names including sugarwood, false sandalwood and ngural is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is rounded with bright green foliage as a young shrub and roughly fissured, dark grey bark when mature. Sugarwood is endemic to the southern half of continental Australia.

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 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 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 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.

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<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.

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.

<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.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila oppositifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 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. 412–417. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, Robert J. "Eremophila oppositifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: PlantNET. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Eremophila oppositifolia". State Herbarium of South Australia:eflora. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Eremophila oppositifolia". Lucid Keys. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  6. Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 198. ISBN   9780980348156.
  7. "Eremophila oppositifolia". APNI. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 518. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  10. "Eremophila oppositifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. "Eremophila oppositifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  12. "Eremophila oppositifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  13. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 53–54. ISBN   9781876473655.
  14. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. ISBN   0002165759.
  15. "Eremophila oppositifolia". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.