Eremophila punicea

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Crimson eremophila
Eremophila punicea.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. punicea
Binomial name
Eremophila punicea

Eremophila punicea, commonly known as crimson eremophila, [2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small, bushy shrub with small grey leaves, hairy branches and attractive pink flowers growing in areas east of Geraldton.

Contents

Description

Eremophila punicea is a bushy shrub which grows to a height of between 0.3 and 0.6 m (1 and 2 ft). Its branches and leaves are densely covered with a layer of tangled or woolly white branched hairs giving the foliage a grey colour. The branches are rough due to persistent leaf bases. The leaves are egg-shaped, 4.5–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 1.5–3.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a straight, hairy stalk up to 4 mm (0.2 in) long. There are 5 narrow linear-shaped sepals which are mostly 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, densely covered with white hairs obscuring their green colour. The petals are 8–18 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is pink, sometimes red on the outside, lighter on the inside. The outside surface of the tube and petal lobes is hairy but the inside surface is mostly glabrous. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs from March to September and is followed by fruits which are woody, oval-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and have a pale brown covering. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described by Spencer Le Marchant Moore in 1899 and the description was published in Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany. [4] [5] The specific epithet (punicea) is a Latin word meaning "reddish" or "purplish-red". [6]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila punicea occurs from north of Mullewa to near Mount Magnet, near Cue and Yalgoo in the Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions [7] where it grows in clay or clay loam. [2] [3] [7] [8]

Conservation

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

Use in horticulture

The soft grey leaves and masses of pale pink to bright red flowers make this small shrub ideal as a feature plant in a small garden. It can be propagated with difficulty from cuttings so is usually grafted onto Myoporum rootstock. It grows best in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade, is moderately drought and frost tolerant and can be lightly pruned to maintain a compact shape. [9]

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References

  1. "Eremophila punicea". 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. 231. ISBN   9780980348156.
  3. 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. 498–500. ISBN   9781877058165.
  4. "Eremophila punicea". APNI. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  5. Le Marchant Moore, Spencer (1899). "The Botanical Results of a Journey into the Interior of Western Australia". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany. 34: 212. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 651.
  7. 1 2 3 "Eremophila punicea". 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. 341. ISBN   0646402439.
  9. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 219–220. ISBN   9781876473655.