Eremophila spongiocarpa

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Eremophila spongiocarpa
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. spongiocarpa
Binomial name
Eremophila spongiocarpa

Eremophila spongiocarpa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a compact shrub with many tangled branches, flattened, succulent leaves, hairy sepals and creamy white petals which are spotted red on the inside.

Contents

Description

Eremophila spongiocarpa is a compact, densely-branched shrub which grows to a height of between 0.5 and 1.0 m (2 and 3 ft). It has stiff, hairy, sometimes spiny branches which become glabrous as they age. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are flattened, fleshy, narrow lance-shaped, mostly 12–24 mm (0.5–0.9 in) long, 1.8–4 mm (0.07–0.2 in) wide and covered with a layer of fine hairs. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on hairy stalks 3.5–6.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. There are 5 green, overlapping, egg-shaped, densely hairy sepals which are 3–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The petals are 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white to creamy-white and has red spots inside the tube. The outside of the petal tube and its lobes are densely hairy but the inside surface of the lobes is mostly glabrous apart from the middle part of the lower lobe. The inner part of the tube is hairy, especially on the lower surface. Two of the 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube whilst the other 2 are enclosed. Flowering mainly occurs between June and August and is followed by fruits which are dry, nearly spherical, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) in diameter, very hairy with a spongy covering. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Eremophila spongiocarpa 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. The specific epithet is from the Latin spongiocarpa, 'spongy fruit'. [4] [2]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila is only known from a small area around a large seasonal marsh northwest of Newman [3] in the Pilbara biogeographic region. [5]

Conservation

Eremophila spongiocarpa is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [5] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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Eremophila retropila is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, spreading shrub with hairy, greyish leaves crowded at the ends of the branches, and lilac or violet-coloured flowers which are white inside.

Eremophila revoluta is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, dense shrub with small, hairy leaves, very hairy sepals and mauve or purple petals.

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

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<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 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

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Eremophila tenella is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with pendulous branches and with its branches and leaves covered with a layer of fine, branched, yellow-grey hairs. Its buds are yellowish but open to white or pale lilac flowers.

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 spongiocarpa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  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. 398–399. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 264. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. ↑ "Eremophila spongiocarpa". APNI. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Eremophila spongiocarpa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
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