Batt's poverty bush facts for kids

Eremophila battii, also called Batt's poverty bush, is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant grows naturally only in central Australia. It's a low, bushy plant with short, fuzzy leaves. Its flowers can be pink, purple, or blue.

What Does It Look Like?

Eremophila battii is a shrub that spreads out and has many branches. Its stems are hairy. It can grow up to about 0.75 m (2 ft) tall and wide.

Leaves

The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are usually 5–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 1.0–3.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. They are shaped like a spear, wider at the base and narrower at the tip. The leaves feel fuzzy and are slightly curved like a dish. They often have a few small teeth near their tip.

Flowers

The flowers usually grow one by one where a leaf joins the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk, about 2–5.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. There are five green, hairy sepals that protect the flower bud. They are about 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long.

The five petals are 16–23 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long. They are joined at the bottom to form a tube shape. The outside of the flower tube is pink, blue, or purple. But the inside is white with dark purple stripes and spots. The outside of the tube is hairy. The inside is also very hairy, except for the petal tips, which are smooth.

This plant has four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. They stay inside the petal tube. You can see the flowers from July to October. After the flowers, the plant makes dry, round fruits. These fruits are about 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and are also hairy.

How It Was Named

The plant was first officially described in 1890 by Ferdinand von Mueller. He wrote about it in a scientific paper. The first plant specimen used to describe the species was found near Eucla, Western Australia. It was collected by J.D. Batt. The name battii honors him.

Where It Grows

You can find Batt's poverty bush in different places across central Western Australia, southern Northern Territory, and South Australia. It likes to grow in red, sandy soils.

Plant Life and Nature

A type of native bee, called Leioproctus lanceolatus, has been seen pollinating E. battii. This means the bee helps the plant make seeds by carrying pollen.

Is It Protected?

The government of Western Australia says that Batt's poverty bush is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.

Growing It in Gardens

Eremophila battii is a small, pretty shrub. People like its bright blue or purple flowers. You can grow it from seeds or from cuttings. You can also graft it onto other plants like Myoporum species. It grows best in soil that drains well. It needs lots of sun or some shade. This plant can handle dry weather. However, it can be hurt by frost.