Eremophila debilis
Winter apple | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Eremophila |
Species: | E. debilis
|
Binomial name | |
Eremophila debilis | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Eremophila debilis, the winter apple or amulla, is a
Description
Eremophila debilis is a prostrate shrub with spreading stems up to 1 m (3 ft) long. It has glossy green, elliptic to lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves that are mostly 32–85 mm (1–3 in) long, 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide and glabrous on a petiole 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long, and usually with 3 or 4 pairs of prominent teeth on the edges.[2][3][4][5][6]
The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to 3 in leaf axils on a stalk 3.5–7.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. There are 5 green, lance-shaped, slightly overlapping sepals mostly 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The petals are 8.5–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white to pale mauve and, unlike many others in the genus, does not have spots. The petal tube and lobes are mostly glabrous on the outside but the inside of the tube is filled with soft hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed within the tube. Flowering mainly occurs in spring and summer and is followed by rounded, fleshy, white to reddish purple fruits, which are 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) in diameter.[2][3][4][5][6]
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first formally described by
Distribution and habitat
Eremophila debilis is widespread in eastern Queensland and New South Wales in a wide range of soils and vegetation associations,[2] often in box and white cypress communities,[3] sometimes forming dense mats.[14] It has been recorded near Boosey in Victoria. It is also present in New Zealand, thought to be the result of naturalisation.[2]
Use in horticulture
Winter apple is well known in horticulture, although often as Myoporum debile. It is suitable as a groundcover in many areas as long as the soil is reasonably well-drained. Its flowers, fruit and foliage are attractive features. It is frost hardy and in ideal conditions will layer.[5] Propagation from seed is difficult but is easy from hardened cuttings of the present year's growth.[6][15][16]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Eremophila debilis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ a b c "Eremophila debilis (Andrews) Chinnock". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0730104001.
- ^ a b c "Eremophila debilis". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ a b c Lodder, Mark. "Eremophila debilis". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Pogonia debilis". APNI. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Andrews, Henry Cranke (1802). The Botanist's Repository for New, and Rare Plants (Volume 3). p. 212. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Myoporum debile". APNI. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 516. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila debilis". APNI. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Chinnock, Robert J. (1992). "New taxa and combinations in the Myoporaceae" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. 15 (1): 77–78. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ "Eremophila debilis". Flora of the Pilliga forest. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ISBN 0002165759.
- ISBN 9781876473655.