Eremaea × phoenicea facts for kids

Eremaea × phoenicea is a special kind of plant that belongs to the myrtle family. It grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. Scientists believe it's a mix of two different Eremaea plants, like a stable "hybrid." This plant is usually a shrub that stands upright or spreads out. It has pointed, oval-shaped leaves and pretty pink to red flowers that grow in small groups at the ends of its branches.

What it Looks Like

Eremaea × phoenicea is a shrub that can stand straight up or spread out. It usually grows to about 1.5 metres (5 ft) tall. Its leaves are small, about 4.2–6.8 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long and 0.8–1.7 millimetres (0.03–0.07 in) wide. They are shaped like a narrow oval or an egg, with the narrower part at the bottom. The leaves also have a fine, soft layer of hairs and usually one, or sometimes three, veins on their underside.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of this plant are rose-colored or red. They grow in small groups of one to four flowers at the ends of branches that grew the year before. The outer part of the flower cup, called the hypanthium, is hairy. Each flower has five petals, which are about 3.5–4.6 millimetres (0.1–0.2 in) long. The colorful part of the flower comes from its stamens. These stamens are grouped into five bundles, and each bundle has between 19 and 26 stamens.

This plant flowers from October to November. After the flowers, it produces woody capsules, which are like small seed pods. These capsules are shaped somewhat like an urn and are about 5.8–7 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long with a smooth surface.

How it's Named and Classified

Eremaea × phoenicea was officially described in 1993 by a scientist named Nuytsia in a journal called Nuytsia (journal). He found a sample of the plant near Eneabba. Hnatiuk believes that Eremaea × phoenicea is a stable hybrid. This means it's a natural mix between two other types of Eremaea plants: Eremaea beaufortioides and Eremaea violacea subsp. rhaphiophylla. Other studies using isozymes (special proteins) also support this idea.

The name phoenicea comes from an Ancient Greek word, φοῖνιξ (phoînix). This word means "purple" or "crimson," which describes the beautiful red color of the plant's flowers.

Where it Grows

You can find Eremaea × phoenicea in the Irwin district. This area is part of the Geraldton Sandplains region in Western Australia. It likes to grow in sandy soil in areas known as kwongan and heath. These are types of shrubland with many different plants.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eremaea × phoenicea as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.