Connie Sue poverty bush facts for kids
Connie Sue poverty bush (scientific name: Eremophila attenuata) is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is only found in a small part of south-east Western Australia. This means it is endemic there, growing naturally nowhere else in the world! It's a shrub with lots of branches, and some of them can even end in a little spine.
Quick facts for kids Connie Sue poverty bush |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
attenuata
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Contents
What Does the Connie Sue Poverty Bush Look Like?
The Connie Sue poverty bush is a shrub that can grow up to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. It has many branches that can look a bit tangled. As the plant gets older, these branches can become spiny.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are arranged one after another along the stem. They are about 9 to 14 millimeters (0.35 to 0.55 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) wide. They are long and narrow, a bit like a spear shape, and have a slightly bluish-green color. You might see a few tiny hairs on their edges and top surface.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a stalk that is shaped like an "S" and is about 14 to 20 millimeters (0.55 to 0.79 inches) long.
The flowers have five green, narrow, triangular parts called sepals, which are about 7 to 11 millimeters (0.28 to 0.43 inches) long. There are also five petals, about 15 to 22 millimeters (0.59 to 0.87 inches) long. These petals join together at the bottom to form a bell-shaped tube. The tube is purple and smooth on the outside, but very hairy on the inside! The bottom middle petal covers the end of the tube.
This plant usually flowers in November. However, scientists haven't yet described what the fruit looks like.
How Was This Plant Named?
The Connie Sue poverty bush was first officially described by a scientist named Robert Chinnock in 2007. He published his description in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.
Where the Name Comes From
The first plant specimen used to describe this species was collected in 1970. It was found about 130 kilometers (81 miles) north of Rawlinna.
The second part of its scientific name, attenuata, is a Latin word. It means "narrowing" or "tapering." This refers to the shape of the sepals, which get narrower towards the end.
Where Does the Connie Sue Poverty Bush Grow?
This special Eremophila plant is only known to grow in the area where the first specimen was found. This is near the Connie Sue Highway, close to Rawlinna. This area is part of the Nullarbor region in Western Australia. It likes to grow on flat plains, in open rangelands, and in shallow dips in the ground.
Is This Plant in Danger?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila attenuata a special classification: "Priority One."
This means that the plant is only known from one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so it's very important to protect this unique plant!
