Eremophila conferta | |
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E. conferta growing near Mount Augustus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Eremophila |
Species: | E. conferta
|
Binomial name | |
Eremophila conferta |
Eremophila conferta is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the central west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many tangled branches with leaves crowded near their ends and with mauve or purple flowers.
Eremophila conferta is a shrub which usually grows to 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) high with many tangled, dark brown branches which are often hidden, especially near their ends, by the leaves. The branches are covered with a layer of long, branched hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately, densely crowded and are covered with soft grey hairs. They are also elliptic to egg-shaped, mostly 12–25 mm (0.5–1 in) long, 6.5–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide and have a distinct mid-vein on their lower surface. [2] [3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on stalks 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. There are 5 narrow, lance-shaped sepals, 7–13.5 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long which have a felt-like texture due to a covering of long, soft hairs. The petals are 18–28 mm (0.7–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is purple, blue or lilac-coloured and white inside, with faint purple spots and is mostly glabrous. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs mostly from August to September and is followed by fruits which are oval-shaped, yellow-brown with a papery covering and are about 5.5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. [2] [3]
Eremophila conferta 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. [4] The type specimen was collected by Chinnock about 4 km (2 mi) west of the Mount Augustus homestead on the lower slopes of Mount Augustus. [2] [4] The specific epithet (conferta) is a Latin word meaning "crowded" [5] referring to the leaves of this species. [2]
This eremophila occurs between Kumarina and the Barlee Range in the Gascoyne biogeographic region [6] where it grows in stony soils on plains, and stony ridges. [3] [7]
Eremophila conferta is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]
This eremophila features soft grey foliage and showy flowers but is frost sensitive and will not tolerate humidity. It has been propagated by grafting onto Myoporum and grown in well-drained soil in a sunny position. [8]
Eremophila conferta | |
---|---|
E. conferta growing near Mount Augustus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Eremophila |
Species: | E. conferta
|
Binomial name | |
Eremophila conferta |
Eremophila conferta is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the central west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many tangled branches with leaves crowded near their ends and with mauve or purple flowers.
Eremophila conferta is a shrub which usually grows to 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) high with many tangled, dark brown branches which are often hidden, especially near their ends, by the leaves. The branches are covered with a layer of long, branched hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately, densely crowded and are covered with soft grey hairs. They are also elliptic to egg-shaped, mostly 12–25 mm (0.5–1 in) long, 6.5–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide and have a distinct mid-vein on their lower surface. [2] [3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on stalks 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long. There are 5 narrow, lance-shaped sepals, 7–13.5 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long which have a felt-like texture due to a covering of long, soft hairs. The petals are 18–28 mm (0.7–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is purple, blue or lilac-coloured and white inside, with faint purple spots and is mostly glabrous. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs mostly from August to September and is followed by fruits which are oval-shaped, yellow-brown with a papery covering and are about 5.5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. [2] [3]
Eremophila conferta 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. [4] The type specimen was collected by Chinnock about 4 km (2 mi) west of the Mount Augustus homestead on the lower slopes of Mount Augustus. [2] [4] The specific epithet (conferta) is a Latin word meaning "crowded" [5] referring to the leaves of this species. [2]
This eremophila occurs between Kumarina and the Barlee Range in the Gascoyne biogeographic region [6] where it grows in stony soils on plains, and stony ridges. [3] [7]
Eremophila conferta is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]
This eremophila features soft grey foliage and showy flowers but is frost sensitive and will not tolerate humidity. It has been propagated by grafting onto Myoporum and grown in well-drained soil in a sunny position. [8]