Eremophila phyllopoda

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Eremophila phyllopoda
Eremophila phyllopoda obliqua (leaves and flowers).jpg
Eremophila phyllopda subsp. obliqua leaves and flowers
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. phyllopoda
Binomial name
Eremophila phyllopoda

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.

Contents

Description

Eremophila phyllopoda is a compact, flat-topped shrub or a spreading shrub depending on subspecies, and grows to a height of between 0.4 and 2 m (1 and 7 ft). Its branches and leaves are covered with a layer of silvery to dull grey simple hairs that are sometimes stained brown. The branches are rough due to the prominent, projecting leaf bases and sticky due to the presence of resin. The leaves are arranged alternately and clustered near the ends of the branches. They are linear to elliptic in shape, taper towards both ends, 18–110 mm (0.7–4 in) long, 1.5–7 mm (0.06–0.3 in) wide, have a covering of hairs which are pressed against the leaf surface and sometimes obscured by resin. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a stalk 1.5–4.5 mm (0.06–0.2 in) long which is densely hairy. There are 5 overlapping, green to pale mauve, hairy, sticky, lance-shaped to egg-shaped, sepals which are 8.5–25 mm (0.3–1 in) long. The petals are 13.5–32 mm (0.5–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white through pink to deep lilac-coloured or purple on the outside, white inside. The petal tube and lobes are hairy on the outside, the petal lobes are glabrous on the inside, and the inside of the tube is filled with woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering time depends on subspecies. The fruits are dry, oval to cone-shaped, 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and have a hairy, papery covering. [2] [3]

E. phyllopoda subsp. phyllopoda growing north-east of Mount Augustus National Park Eremophila phyllopoda phyllopoda (habit).jpg
E. phyllopoda subsp. phyllopoda growing north-east of Mount Augustus National Park
E. phyllopoda subsp. obliqua growing near Newman Eremophila phyllopoda obliqua (habit).jpg
E. phyllopoda subsp. obliqua growing near Newman

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] The specific epithet (phyllopoda) is said to be derived from the Latin phyllo-, "leaf" and poda, "foot", referring to the very prominent persistent leaf bases of this species, [2] and that persist well after the leaves have fallen. [3] Sharr gives the derivation as from the Greek phyllo- meaning "a leaf-" and podus, "a foot". [5] The word for "leaf" in classical and botanical Latin is folium. [6] [7] :439 In ancient Greek the word for "leaf" is phyllon (φύλλον). [8] Pes is used for "foot" in classical and botanical Latin, [6] [7] :414 while in ancient Greek, pous (πούς) is used. [8]

In the same book, Chinnock described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Distribution and habitat

Subspecies phyllopoda occurs stony plains and rocky ridges from west of Mt Augustus to Meekatharra [3] in the Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison and Pilbara biogeographic regions. [11] Subspecies obliqua is found in stony soils near creek beds and on rocky hills between the Collier and Barlee ranges in the Gascoyne and Pilbara biogeographic regions. [12]

Conservation

Both subspecies of E. phyllopoda are classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [13]

Use in horticulture

This is one of the most attractive eremophilas with its grey, pendulous leaves and mass display of lilac to blue or pink flowers. Its colourful sepals remain on the plant long after the petal tube has fallen and it is an ideal container plant. It is usually propagated by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and grown in well-drained soil in full sun. It only needs occasional watering during a long drought but it is frost sensitive and needs to be grown in a warm, protected position. [14]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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<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.

Eremophila papillata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with sticky, narrow leaves and mauve, blue or purple, rarely white flowers.

<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 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

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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.

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 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 phyllopoda". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 334–337. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. pp. 210–211. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopoda". APNI. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 276. ISBN   9780958034180.
  6. 1 2 Lewis, C.T. & Short, C. (1879). A Latin dictionary founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  7. 1 2 Stearn, William T. (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
  8. 1 2 Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. Revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie.Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  9. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopodasubsp. phyllopoda". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopodasubsp. obliqua". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopoda subsp. phyllopoda". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  12. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopoda subsp. densa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  13. ↑ "Eremophila phyllopoda". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  14. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 141–143. ISBN   9781876473655.
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