Eremophila veronica

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Veronica-like eremophila
Eremophila veronica.jpg
Status DECF P3.svg
Priority Three — 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. veronica
Binomial name
Eremophila veronica
Synonyms [1]
  • Eremophila elachantha Diels
  • Pholidia elachantha(Diels) Kraenzl.
  • Pholidia veronicaS.Moore

Eremophila veronica, commonly known as veronica-like eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with small, crowded leaves and lilac-coloured flowers which have a short petal tube and spreading petal lobes.

Contents

Description

Eremophila veronica is shrub grows to a height of between 20 and 60 cm (8 and 20 in) and spreads up to 60 cm (20 in). Its branches are densely hairy and sometimes sticky to touch near their tips. The leaves are arranged in whorls of 3 around the branches, crowded and appearing in rows along the branches. They are linear in shape, triangular in cross-section, 2.5–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 0.8–2 mm (0.03–0.08 in) wide, green to purplish in colour and slightly hairy with minute scales of dried resin. [2] [3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils and lack a stalk. There are 5 overlapping, oblong to lance-shaped, pointed sepals which are 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, glabrous on the outer surface but hairy on the inner side and edges. The petals are 5.5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube and are shorter than those of most other eremophilas. The petal tube is lilac-coloured on the outside and white with lilac spots inside. The petal tube and lobes are glabrous on both surfaces except for the lower lobe which has short, flattened hairs and the inside of the tube which is filled with long, soft hairs. The 4 stamens extend slightly beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering mainly occurs between October and December and is followed by fruits which are oval-shaped, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and have a hard covering. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1899 by Spencer Le Marchant Moore who gave it the name Pholidia veronica. The description was published in Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany . [4] [5] In 1931, Charles Gardner changed the name to Eremophila veronica and published the name change in Enumeratio plantarum Australiae Occidentalis. [6] The specific epithet (veronica) presumably refers to the similarity of this species to those in the genus Veronica . [2]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila occurs in the Coolgardie area [3] in the Coolgardie and Murchison biogeographic regions [7] growing in rocky clay soil in low Eucalyptus woodland. [3]

Conservation

Eremophila veronica is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife [7] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [8]

Use in horticulture

This shrub is an ornamental plant, even when not covered with its small pale blue flowers. It can be propagated from cuttings and grows best in well-drained soil in full sun. It only needs an occasional watering during a long dry spell and is very frost tolerant. [9]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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Eremophila eversa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of Western Australia. It is known from only one plant, now thought to have died. It is a small shrub with small leaves and hairy purple to lilac-coloured flowers.

Eremophila grandiflora is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a large shrub with shiny leaves and the largest flowers in its genus and is only known from a restricted area near Paynes Find.

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

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

Eremophila homoplastica is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with many fine, tangled branches, tiny leaves and purple to lilac-coloured flowers.

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

Eremophila interstans is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub or small tree found in Western Australia and South Australia and has narrow leaves with a hooked end, and white or cream-coloured flowers.

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

Eremophila labrosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with many hairy branches arising from near ground level, narrow, hooked leaves and mauve and blue flowers.

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

Eremophila margarethae, commonly known as sandbank poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with grey leaves, flowers a shade of pink or purple, common in central areas of Western Australia.

Eremophila metallicorum, commonly known as miners poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves and lilac-coloured flowers on an S-shaped stalk.

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.

Eremophila phillipsii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a tall, erect, open shrub, with narrow leaves and lilac to purple flowers which are white with purple spots inside. It often has an offensive smell.

Eremophila praecox is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a small, broom-like shrub with small leaves and purple and white flowers.

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.

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

Eremophila sargentii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with sticky, shiny foliage, small leaves and mauve or blue 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 willsii</i> Species of plant

Eremophila willsii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect shrub with bright green, often serrated leaves and pinkish to deep pinkish-purple petals. It is mainly found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia in deep sand.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila veronica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 August 2020.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  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. 254–256. 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. 279. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. "Pholidia veronica". APNI. Retrieved 27 March 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. Le Mrchant Moore, Spencer (1899). "The Botanical Results of a Journey into the Interior of Western Australia". Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany. 34: 209–210. Retrieved 27 March 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. "Eremophila veronica". APNI. Retrieved 27 March 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  7. 1 2 "Eremophila vernicosa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  8. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 27 March 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  9. Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 227–228. ISBN   9781876473655.