Eremophila (plant)
Eremophila | |
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Eremophila maculata (cultivated) at Desert Demonstration Garden in Las Vegas | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Tribe: | Myoporeae |
Genus: | Eremophila R.Br.[1]
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Species | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Eremophila is a
Description
Eremophilas vary in size and habit from low, prostrate shrubs such as E. serpens to small trees in the case of E. bignoniiflora. Leaf size and shape is also variable but the leaves are usually small and are often shiny or hairy. The flowers usually have 5 spreading sepals and 5 petals which are joined into a tube, at least at the base. The most common flower colours are red, purple, lilac and mauve but others are white and even green. Many species have flowers which have a combination of colours, or have spotted or streaked markings, or both. Sometimes only the petals are coloured but often the sepals are also colourful.[2][3][4]
There is variation in flower shape, the most common being two petals at the top of the tube and three below, with the stamens enclosed in the tube as in the case of E. exilifolia. Species with this arrangement are generally insect-pollinated, the lower petals acting as a landing area. Less common are those that have four petal lobes at the top of the flower, one below which is curled under the flower and the stamens extending beyond the petal tube, as in the case of E. glabra. These flowers are generally bird pollinated, the bird holding the plant stem while it visits the flower. A few others have flowers with a combination of these arrangements.[2][3][4]
As the flower ages, the
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Eremophila was first formally described in 1810 by the botanist
The name Eremophila is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐρῆμος (erêmos) meaning "lonely" or "desert" and φίλος (phílos) meaning “dear" or "beloved”[9] alluding to the species' adaptation to arid environments.[10]
Species list
See List of Eremophila species
Common names
A significant number of eremophilas have the term emu bush or poverty bush as part of their common names, although sometimes two species have the same common name and sometimes one species has more than one common name. Of the approximately 270 species, the following have at least one common name:
- Emu bush
- E. alternifolia – narrow-leaved emu bush
- E. bignoniiflora – gooramurra, bignonia emu bush
- E. compacta – compact emu bush
- E. divaricata – spreading emu bush
- E. elderi – aromatic emu bush
- E. gilesii – Charleville turkey bush, green turkey bush, Giles emu bush
- E. glabra – common emu bush
- E. glutinosa – sticky emu bush
- E. hillii – Hill's emu bush
- E. lactea – milky emu bush
- E. maculata – spotted emu bush
- E. polyclada – twiggy emu-bush
- E. scaberula – rough emu bush
- E. scoparia – silver emu bush, broom bush
- Poverty bush
- E. abietina – spotted poverty bush
- E. anomala – Paroo poverty bush
- E. attenuata – Connie Sue poverty bush
- E. aureivisca – Rason poverty bush
- E. battii – Batt's poverty bush
- E. bowmanii – Bowman's poverty bush
- E. campanulata – bell-flowered poverty bush
- E. ciliata – Archer's poverty bush
- E. denticulata – toothed poverty bush
- E. foliosissima – poverty bush
- E. granitica – granite poverty bush, thin-leaved poverty bush
- E. maitlandii – Shark Bay poverty bush
- E. malacoides – frontage poverty bush
- E. margarethae – sandbank poverty bush
- E. metallicorum – miners poverty bush
- E. micrantha – small-flowered poverty bush
- E. parvifolia – small-leaved poverty bush
- E. pterocarpa – wing-fruited eremophila, silver poverty bush
- E. spectabilis – showy poverty bush
- E. spinescens – spiny poverty bush
Distribution and habitat
Eremophilas are distributed across the Australian mainland, primarily in arid regions and the majority of species occur in Western Australia. Eremophila maculata is found in all Australian states but there are no eremophilas in Tasmania. Eremophila debilis is found in New Zealand although its appearance there is thought to be recent, most likely as a result of introduction by people.[5][11]
At least 229 species are found in Western Australia and about 80% of those are endemic to that state. They are most common in arid areas - in the Meekatharra-Wiluna area there are more than 50 eremophila species and are the most common shrubs encountered. A few species, including E. complanata and E. mirabilis have very restricted distributions and only occur on one or two rocky outcrops.[3]
Ecology
Eremophila includes entomophilous species, with flowers adapted to attract insects, and ornithophilous species, with flowers that attract birds. Entomophilous flowers have protruding lower lips, which provide a landing area for insects, and they are often blue, purple, or white. Bird-adapted flowers are red, orange, yellow, or green, and have lobes pointing downwards which discourages insects. Bird pollinated species also tend to have longer stamens, which brush pollen onto and off the bird's head as it feeds.[5] The fruits are eaten by emus, which disperse the seeds in their droppings[5] although the belief that this aids in the germination of the seeds is mistaken.[4]
Some species of Eremophila, such as E.freelingii and E.latrobei are toxic to stock whereas others, including E.bignoniiflora and E.oppositifolia are useful fodder plants.[4]
Uses
Indigenous uses
Aboriginal people used eremophilas for cultural and health reasons. For example, the Adnyamathanha people used Varti-varka (Eremophila longifolia) in burial ceremonies and in initiation ceremonies. Skin complaints were treated with a mixture of emu oil and the ash from burned bark of the plant.[4]
Use in horticulture
Eremophilas have not often been cultivated in the past, although some species, including Eremophila maculata are well known. Their rarity in gardens was partly because they were difficult to propagate or because they were rarely seen, even in nature. As methods of propagating and growing have improved, the popularity of eremophilas has increased. The beauty and abundance of their flowers, variety of foliage and habit, and extended flowering period make them attractive garden plants. They are mostly drought resistant and many also tolerant of frost, allowing them to be grown in most situations. The difficulty of propagating from seed, and also sometimes from cuttings has prevented many species from being commercially available, but most species can be grafted onto rootstock of Myoporum species, giving the added advantage of being able to grow in almost any soil type, including heavy clay. Myoporum insulare, M. montanum and M. acuminatum are suitable, depending on where the plant is to be grown.[12][13][14][15] It is possible to germinate eremophila seeds but the process involves either leaving the fruit in the ground for long periods or removing the seed from the fruit without damaging the seed.[16]
In nature, most eremophila grow where rainfall is infrequent and are adapted to dealing with long dry spells, even droughts lasting years. Eremophilas are therefore suited to low maintenance gardens, those where water supply is limited or where gardeners want a garden that does not require large volumes of water. In fact, excessive water can kill many species. In a severe drought, some species, such as E. microtheca can lose their leaves and appear to be dead after a long dry period, only to recover and turn into a compact, healthy-looking shrub after a deep watering. Most also grow in nutrient-poor soil, and fertiliser is rarely needed or beneficial.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Eremophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ a b c d e f "Eremophila and Relatives". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ ISBN 187633486X.
- ^ "Eremophila". APNI. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (Volume 1). London. p. 518. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Brown, Andrew P.; Davis, Robert W. (2016). "Eremophila buirchellii and E. calcicola (Scrophulariaceae), two new species from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 27: 213–216.
- ISBN 0195507932.
- ^ "Eremophila alternifolia". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ ISBN 9781876473655.
- ^ "Eremophila and its Relatives - Propagation". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ISBN 0002165759.
- ^ Jennings, Colin. "Eremophila: The Emu Bush". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ^ Cochrane, Anne. "Seed notes for Western Australia: 5 - Eremophila" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
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