Archer's eremophila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Archer's eremophila |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
ciliata
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Archer's eremophila, also known as Eremophila ciliata, is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is endemic, which means it only grows naturally in a small area in the south of Western Australia. It is an upright, spreading shrub with short, thick leaves and small flowers that are lilac or light purple. Sadly, there are only about 100 of these plants known to exist in the wild.
Contents
What Does Archer's Eremophila Look Like?
Archer's eremophila is an upright, spreading shrub. It usually grows up to about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and 3 meters (10 feet) wide. Its stems are a bit lumpy, with grooves below where the leaves attach.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves grow one after another along the stems. They are thick and smooth on top, but lumpy underneath. Each leaf is narrow and shaped like a small egg, usually about 5 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long and 1 to 2.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.1 inches) wide. They curve a little near the end.
The flowers grow alone or in small groups of up to three where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a tiny stalk about 1.5 to 3 millimeters (0.06 to 0.12 inches) long. There are five green to purple parts called sepals that protect the flower bud. These sepals are smooth, but their edges have long, soft hairs.
The petals of the flower are about 5.5 to 7.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. The outside of this tube is mauve or lilac-colored, while the inside is white with purple spots. The outside of the petal tube is smooth, but the tips of the petals are covered with many hairs. The inside of the tube is also full of long, soft hairs. This plant mostly flowers in September. After flowering, it produces dry, wrinkled fruits that are about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long and have noticeable wings.
How Was This Plant Named?
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published its description in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. The very first sample of this plant, called the type specimen, was collected by William Archer. He found it near the bottom of Mount Newmont in the Cape Arid National Park. The plant's scientific name, ciliata, comes from a Latin word that means "having fine hairs" or "fringed with fine hairs." This describes the tiny hairs found on its sepals and petals.
Where Does Archer's Eremophila Grow?
Archer's eremophila is only found in the exact place where the first sample was collected. This area is part of the Mallee region. It grows in a thin strip of sandy soil that lies over granite rock.
Why Is This Plant Important to Protect?
There are only about 100 to 200 Archer's eremophila plants known to exist. They all grow in one small area, roughly 50 meters (164 feet) long and 5 meters (16 feet) wide. Because there are so few plants, this species is considered very vulnerable.
Threats to the Plant
Several things threaten this small population:
- Small Size: Having so few plants in one spot makes them very sensitive to any changes.
- Grazing: Rabbits eating the plants can harm the population.
- Fires: The wrong kind of fires can destroy the plants.
- Mining: Activities related to looking for minerals in the area could also damage their habitat.
Because of these threats, the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) has listed Archer's eremophila as "Threatened Flora." This means it is a rare plant that needs special protection. A plan has been created to help the plant recover and survive.
