Eremophila pinnatifida

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Eremophila pinnatifida
Eremophila pinnatifida leaves.jpg
Foliage of E. pinnatifida in Kings Park, Perth
Status DECF R.svg
Declared rare  (DEC)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. pinnatifida
Binomial name
Eremophila pinnatifida

Eremophila pinnatifida, commonly known as Dalwallinu eremophila [2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a spreading, rounded shrub with aromatic, deeply divided leaves and pale purple flowers which are white with purple spots inside. It is a rare plant, known only from a few areas near Perth.

Contents

Description

Eremophila pinnatifida is an erect, rounded, aromatic shrub which grows to a height of between 0.6 and 1.0 m (2 and 3 ft). Its branches are mostly hidden by the leaves and are densely hairy with both yellow glandular and simple hairs. The leaves are arranged in whorls of 3, overlap each other and are oblong to egg-shaped, deeply divided, 5–9.5 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 2.5–4.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. They are sticky due to the presence of resin, densely covered with glandular hairs on both surfaces and with longer white hairs mainly only on the upper surface. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils and lack a stalk. There are 5 green, linear to lance-shaped, hairy sepals which are 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The petals are 18–25 mm (0.7–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is pale to deep purple on the outside and white with pale purple spots inside. The outer surface of the tube and lobes is hairy but the inner surface of the petal lobes is glabrous and the inside of the tube is filled with long, soft hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from August to January and is followed by fruits which are dry, woody, oval-shaped with a pointed end and about 4 mm (0.2 in) long with a hairy covering. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

This 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 is from the "Latin pinnatifida, lobed in a pinnate manner, the lobes cut to about three-quarters of the way to the midrib". [3]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila pinnatifida grows in loamy soil in tall, open Eucalyptus woodland between Dalwallinu and Wongan Hills [2] [3] in the Avon Wheatbelt biogeographic region. [5]

Conservation

E. pinnatifida is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) [5] and an Interim Recovery Plan has been prepared. [6]

Use in horticulture

This is a fast-growing shrub with attractive, fern-like leaves and massed flower displays in spring and early summer. It is widely grown in eastern Australia but is sometimes short-lived. It can be easily grown from cuttings and grows in most soils, including clay but prefers a sunny position. It is tolerant of long droughts and of frost. [7]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

Eremophila malacoides, commonly known as frontage poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with grey-green foliage, densely hairy leaves, and usually lilac to purple flowers but a yellow flowered form also occurs.

<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 ovata</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila ovata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory. It is a small, spreading, rounded shrub with hairy branches and leaves and pink or purple flowers which are white inside.

Eremophila pallida is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with hairy stems, leaves with a few serrations and reddish purple to violet flowers.

Eremophila perglandulosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub which has small leaves with many glandular hairs and mauve or purple flowers.

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.

Eremophila pilosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with many tangled branches, with its leaves and branches densely covered with hairs and which has mauve or purple flowers. It occurs in a restricted area in the Pilbara.

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

Eremophila punctata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with sticky young branches and leaves due to the presence of resin. Its small leaves usually have a few blunt teeth near their ends and flowers which are usually lilac-coloured. It is a distinctive and widespread species.

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

Eremophila rigens is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with long, stiff, glabrous leaves and pale lilac-coloured to white flowers.

Eremophila setacea is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrow, glabrous leaves, hairy sepals and light blue to purple petals.

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 ternifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila ternifolia, commonly known as Wongan eremophila is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, many-branched, shrub with short, pointed leaves and small lilac-coloured or mauve flowers.

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

Eremophila tietkensii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a rounded to flat-topped shrub with grey-green leaves, usually pinkish-purple sepals and mauve, pink or lilac-coloured petals. It is mostly found in Western Australia but also occurs in the far west of the Northern Territory.

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

Eremophila veneta, commonly known as metallic-flowered eremophila is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, sticky shrub with dark green leaves and bluish-green petals.

Eremophila viscimarginata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small, erect, prickly shrub with hairy stems, small leaves, greenish-pink sepals and mauve petals.

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

Eremophila warnesii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with furry leaves, hairy sepals and blue to mauve petals. It is a little-known species, named after the founder of the Eremophila Study Group.

References

  1. "Eremophila pinnatifida". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 214. 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. 283–284. ISBN   9781877058165.
  4. "Eremophila pinnatifida". APNI. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Eremophila pinnatifida". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. "Pinnate-leaved eremophila (Eremophila pinnatifida ms) interim recovery plan" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  7. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 143–144. ISBN   9781876473655.