Wavy-leaved eremophila | |
---|---|
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Eremophila |
Species: | E. undulata |
Binomial name | |
Eremophila undulata | |
Eremophila undulata, commonly known as wavy-leaved eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with greenish-brown flowers and leaves that have a wavy margin.
Eremophila undulata is a shrub which grows to a height of between 20 and 50 cm (8 and 20 in) and which has branches covered with long, white, branched hairs and persistent leaf bases. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and have stalks 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long which are covered with hairs like those on the branches. The leaf blades are oblong to elliptic in shape, mostly 22–30 mm (0.9–1 in) long, 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide, covered with branched hairs and have wavy margins. [2] [3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on hairy, S-shaped stalks 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long. There are 5 green, overlapping, egg-shaped to oblong sepals which are 6.5–8.5 mm (0.26–0.33 in) long and mostly only hairy on their outer surface. The petals are 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is greenish-brown or yellowish-green with glandular hairs on both inner and outer surfaces. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs from June to July and is followed by fruit which are dry, almost spherical, 6–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and have a glabrous, papery covering. [2] [3]
Eremophila undulata was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 1980 and the description was published in Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. [4] [5] The type specimen was found by Alex George in 1974, 88 km (50 mi) south of Neale Junction in the Great Victoria Desert. [4] [3] The specific epithet (undulata) is a Latin word meaning "wavy" [6] referring to the margins of the leaves. [2]
This eremophila is only known from a few small areas north of Rawlinna in the Great Victoria Desert biogeographic region [7] [8] near where the type specimen was found. It is common in those locations, growing in brown sandy soil in association with mallee and hummock grasses. [2] [3]
Eremophila undulata is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [7] meaning that is poorly known and from only one or a few locations. [9]
Although its flowers are greenish, the flowers of this eremophila are produced in large numbers and are attractive to nectar-feeding birds. The wavy leaves are an added attraction. It can be grown from seed, from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum and the shrub grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny position. It only requires occasional watering during a long dry spell and is only damaged by the most severe frosts. [10]
Eremophila clarkei, commonly known as turpentine bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a shrub which is variable in form, but usually with narrow leaves and white or pale pink flowers. It is similar to Eremophila georgei and Eremophila granitica.
Eremophila canaliculata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area near Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is a low, compact and highly aromatic shrub with serrated leaves and mauve to blue flowers.
Eremophila crenulata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is a large shrub, distinguished by its broad leaves which have distinctively wavy margins. The flowers are white, pink or blue and occasionally purple.
Eremophila dendritica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south of Australia. It is a low, shrub with many tangled branches. Its branches, leaves and flowers are densely covered with hairs giving them a felty texture.
Eremophila lanata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with small, hairy leaves, densely hairy sepals and lilac to pinkish flowers.
Eremophila magnifica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with large, clustered leaves and large, attractive lilac-coloured or purple flowers, sometimes so densely clustered that they appear like compound heads of terminal flowers.
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 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 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 physocalyx is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with soft, grey-green leaves and cream-coloured flowers with unusual inflated sepals.
Eremophila pinnatifida, commonly known as Dalwallinu eremophila 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.
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.
Eremophila ramiflora is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with sticky branches, broad, sticky leaves and deep red flowers which appear in successive flowerings.
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.
Eremophila rhegos is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with densely hairy leaves and branches and blue, mauve, purple or white flowers.
Eremophila rigida is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect, rigid shrub with thick, hairy, rigid leaves and pale yellowish-cream flowers.
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.
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.
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.