Eremaea × codonocarpa facts for kids

Eremaea × codonocarpa is a special plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This plant is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. Scientists believe it's a natural mix, or hybrid, of two different types of Eremaea plants. It's usually a small bush with triangle-shaped leaves and pretty pink to purple flowers that grow at the ends of its branches.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Eremaea × codonocarpa can be a small bush that stands upright, or it can spread out close to the ground. It usually grows to be about 0.7 metres (2 ft) tall.

Its leaves are quite small, about 4.1–11.2 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long and 0.6–1.8 millimetres (0.02–0.07 in) wide. They are shaped like a narrow egg or a line, and they get thinner towards the tip. If you cut a leaf in half, it would look somewhat triangular. The leaves are covered in tiny, soft hairs and usually have one, or sometimes three, veins on their underside.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of Eremaea × codonocarpa are a lovely shade of pink to deep pink. They grow in small groups, often in pairs, at the ends of short branches. These short branches grew from longer ones made the year before.

The outside part of the flower cup, called the hypanthium, is very hairy. Each flower has 5 petals, which are about 3.5–4.6 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long. The colourful part of the flower comes from its stamens. These stamens are grouped into 5 bundles, and each bundle has between 19 and 26 stamens!

This plant usually flowers from October to November. After the flowers, it grows woody fruits called capsules. These capsules are shaped a bit like an urn or a bell, and they are about 5.8–7 millimetres (0.23–0.28 in) long. Their surface feels rough and flaky.

Where Did It Get Its Name?

Eremaea × codonocarpa was officially described in 1993 by a scientist named Nuytsia. He found a sample of the plant near Jurien Bay.

Hnatiuk believes that Eremaea × codonocarpa is a stable hybrid. This means it's a natural mix that has settled down and can reproduce itself, formed from two other plant types: Eremaea asterocarpa subspecies asterocarpa and Eremaea violacea subspecies raphiophylla. Other studies, looking at special chemicals in the plant called isozymes, also support this idea.

The name codonocarpa comes from two Ancient Greek words. Kódon means "bell", and karpós means "fruit". This name was chosen because the plant's fruits are shaped like an urn or a bell!

Where Does It Live?

Eremaea × codonocarpa is found in the Irwin area of Western Australia. This region includes parts of the Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain areas. It likes to grow in sandy soil that has a type of rock called laterite on flat, sandy areas.

Is It Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Eremaea × codonocarpa. They have classified it as "not threatened", which means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.