Eremophila prolata

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Eremophila prolata
Status DECF P1.svg
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (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. prolata
Binomial name
Eremophila prolata

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.

Contents

Description

Eremophila prolata is a shrub which grows to a height of between 0.8 and 1.8 m (3 and 6 ft) and which has a flattened to rounded crown. The branches have prominent leaf bases, are densely covered with milky-white hairs and are sticky due to the presence of brown resin. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are linear to elliptic in shape, taper towards both ends, mostly 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) long, 1.6–3.0 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide and hairy but the hairs often hidden by resin. [2] [3]

The flowers are usually borne in groups of 2 or 3 in leaf axils on flattened, hairy stalks 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long. There are 5 brownish to dark purplish-pink, overlapping sepals which differ in shape from each other, ranging from egg-shaped to lance-shaped and 10–23 mm (0.4–0.9 in) long. Both surfaces of the sepals are hairy and often sticky near the base of the sepal. The petals are 18–28 mm (0.7–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white to pale lilac or deep purple on the outside, while the inside of the tube is white, faintly spotted with lilac. The outside of the petal lobes and most of the tube are hairy, the inside of the lobes is glabrous and the inside of the tube is filled with woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from June to September and is followed by fruits which are dry, woody, cone-shaped to oval-shaped, 6.5–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and have a paper 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 (prolata) is a Latin word meaning "extended" or "elongated", [5] referring to the elongated flower buds. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila prolata is only known from near Yarlarweelor Station [2] [3] in the Gascoyne and Murchison biogeographic regions of Western Australia [6] [7] growing in red-brown clay in stony places. [2] [3]

Conservation

Eremophila prolata is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [6] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk. [8]

Use in horticulture

The pale lilac to deep purple flowers of this eremophila are well displayed and it is a valuable garden plant in frost-free gardens. It is difficult to propagate except by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and needs to be grown well-drained soil in a sunny position. It is very drought resistant although an occasional watering during a long drought may stimulate flowering. [9]

Related Research Articles

Eremophila coacta is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the north west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrow, sticky, pointed leaves and densely hairy light to dark lilac-coloured flowers.

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

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

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

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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 labrosa</i> Species of flowering plant

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

Eremophila lanceolata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with foliage which is shiny when young, angular branches and lilac to purple flowers and which grows in the north-west of Western Australia.

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 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.

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.

<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 punctata</i> Species of flowering plant

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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 reticulata</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila reticulata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense shrub with egg-shaped leaves, colourful sepals and white or pink 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 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.

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

Eremophila spuria is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with narrow leaves and blue, lilac, purple or white flowers and is a common and widespread species.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Eremophila prolata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 328–329. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 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. 225. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. ↑ "Eremophila prolata". APNI. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 494.
  6. 1 2 "Eremophila prolata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 341. ISBN   0646402439.
  8. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 149. ISBN   9781876473655.
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