Eremophila viscida

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Varnish bush
Eremophila viscids (leaves and flowers).jpg
Eremophila viscida growing in Kings Park, Perth
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. viscida
Binomial name
Eremophila viscida
Synonyms [1]

Eremophila viscida, commonly known as varnish bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a large shrub or small tree with large green leaves which are sticky when young, colourful sepals and greenish-white petals with red to purple markings.

Contents

Description

Eremophila viscida is a shrub or tree which grows to a height of between 2 and 6 m (7 and 20 ft) with new growth that is sticky due to the presence of resin. Its branches are glabrous sticky, shiny brown and rough due to persistent leaf bases. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and have a stalk 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The leaf blades are elliptic to lance-shaped, taper at both ends, folded into a U-shape or V-shape, mostly 45–90 mm (2–4 in) long, 10–21 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide, glabrous and sticky. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to 3 in leaf axils on glabrous, sticky stalks that are 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in). There are 5 overlapping, egg-shaped, glabrous, sticky sepals which are 14–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and yellow with a metallic blue-green tinge or pinkish-red. The petals are 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is cream-coloured with a red or metallic blue-green tinge on the outside while the inside of the lobes and tube have red to blackish-purple spots which sometimes join to form lines or patches of colour. The inner and outer surface of the petal tube and its lobes are covered with glandular hairs. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs between September and November and is followed by fruit which are dry, woody, oval-shaped, 5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and half-covered with simple and glandular hairs. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Stephan Endlicher in 1838 and the description was published in Stirpium Australasicarum Herbarii Hugeliani Decades Tres. [6] The specific epithet (viscida) is a Latin word meaning "sticky". [7]

Distribution and habitat

Varnish bush grows in granitic soils in shrubland on salt lake margins, sandplains and stony gullies between Warralakin and Mullewa [3] [5] in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. [8]

Conservation

Eremophila viscida is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia). [8] It is listed as "Endangered" (EN) under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) [9] and an interim recovery plan has been prepared. [4] In 2003 it was known from 16 populations with a total of 816 mature plants. [4]

Use in horticulture

This large eremophila produces masses of flowers in spring and is very attractive to nectar-feeding birds. It is difficult to propagate from cuttings although the cream-coloured form strikes more easily, but it can also be grafted onto Myoporum rootstock. The shrub will grow in a wide range of soils, including alkaline soils and those based on clay, in full sun or partial shade. It does not require watering even during a long dry spell, although it may lose some leaves, and it is frost tolerant. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

Eremophila decipiens, commonly known as slender fuchsia bush or narrow-leaved fuchsia bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area extending from the south-west of Western Australia to southern parts of South Australia. It is low, sprawling shrub with lance-shaped leaves and red, orange or yellow flowers on a long, S-shaped stalk.

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

Eremophila subteretifolia, commonly known as Lake King eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a creeping, prostrate shrub with narrow, sticky, dark green leaves and distinctive orange-red to yellow flowers. It is a rare plant which grows near the edges of salt lakes.

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

Eremophila lactea, commonly known as milky emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with its branches and leaves mostly glabrous but with white blotches due to the presence of dry resin. It is a critically endangered plant species mostly found in disturbed areas such as roadsides.

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

Eremophila scaberula, commonly known as rough emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low growing, heath-like shrub with crowded leaves and which produces solitary pale to dark purple flowers in the leaf axils predominantly between July and October in its native range.

Eremophila appressa, commonly known as wispy poverty bush, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to two remote locations in the central west of Western Australia. Its most unusual feature is its leaves which, at least when young, are less than 2.5 mm (0.1 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and are glued to the stem by resin.

Eremophila elderi, commonly known as aromatic emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is endemic to central Australia where it grows near the border between Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is an erect, aromatic shrub with sticky leaves and branches and usually pale coloured to white flowers. Its specific epithet (elderi) honours an early Australian businessman, Thomas Elder.

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

Eremophila exilifolia is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a widely distributed shrub which is shaped like an inverted cone and has small, very sticky leaves and branches and lilac-coloured flowers.

Eremophila lucida, commonly known as shining poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with sticky, shiny leaves and branches and with flowers that are either red with darker red blotches inside or cream-coloured without spots or blotches.

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

Eremophila neglecta is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a shrub which branches from ground level and which has lance-shaped leaves and orange-red flowers. It occurs in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

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

Eremophila paisleyi is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a rounded, broom-shaped shrub with white or lilac-coloured flowers which occurs in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

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

Eremophila rugosa is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with sticky, shiny leaves and pink, purple or mauve 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 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 tetraptera</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila tetraptera is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub or small tree with narrow, lance-shaped leaves often crowded on short side branches, red flowers and unusual four-winged fruits resembling those of hop bushes.

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

Eremophila veneta, commonly known as metallic-flowered eremophila is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, sticky shrub with dark green leaves and bluish-green petals.

Eremophila vernicosa, commonly known as resinous poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with its glabrous leaves and branches appearing varnished due to a thick covering of resin. It has small leaves and white to pale mauve flowers.

Eremophila virens, commonly known as green-flowered eremophila or Campion eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with large, shiny leaves and hairy, yellowish-green 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 jamesiorum is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a wispy, sticky shrub with narrow linear leaves and white flowers tinged with pink or mauve. It is only known from a few locations in the Gibson Desert.

Eremophila laccata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to an area near Carnegie in Western Australia. It is a small, low, spindly shrub with scattered, linear leaves, and pink, flattened bell-shaped flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila viscida". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 641–642. 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. 282. ISBN   9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Phillimore, Robyn; Evans, Rebecca; Brown, Andrew; English, Val. "Varnish Bush (Eremophila viscida) interim recovery plan" (PDF). Government of Australia Department of the Environment. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). [Kenthurst, N.S.W.]: Rosenberg Pub. p. 109. ISBN   9781877058844.
  6. ↑ "Eremophila viscida". APNI. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 370.
  8. 1 2 "Eremophila viscida". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  9. ↑ "Eremophila viscida — Varnish bush, SPRAT profile". Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 85–86. ISBN   9781876473655.
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