Eremophila arachnoides facts for kids
Eremophila arachnoides is a unique plant from the figwort family. It grows naturally only in a few dry parts of Western Australia and South Australia. This plant looks like a broom and has pretty white or light purple flowers shaped like trumpets. The inside of these flowers is super hairy!
Quick facts for kids Eremophila arachnoides |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
arachnoides
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Contents
About This Plant
Eremophila arachnoides can grow quite tall, up to 4 metres (10 ft) (about 13 feet) high and 3 metres (10 ft) (about 10 feet) wide. Its stems and leaves are covered in short, soft hairs. The leaves grow in pairs, opposite each other, almost at a 90-degree angle to the stem. They are usually 20–32 mm (0.79–1.3 in) long and 0.7–1 mm (0.03–0.04 in) wide. They are thin and round, or almost round, with a small groove on top.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers grow either alone or in pairs where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on short stalks, only 1–3.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long. Each flower has five triangle-shaped sepals, which are small, about 0.8–2 mm (0.03–0.08 in) long.
The main part of the flower is a tube made of petals, which is 15–24 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long. This tube can be white, pale pink, blue, or light purple on the outside. Inside, it often has yellow or purple spots. Both the inside and outside of the flower tube, and its petal tips, are very hairy. The four stamens (the parts that make pollen) stay inside the flower tube.
This plant flowers between August and December. After the flowers, it grows soft, oval-shaped fruit. These fruits are about 5 mm–7 mm × 3.5 mm–5.5 mm (0.2 in–0.3 in × 0.1 in–0.2 in) in size. They start as pale green and turn a lovely pink color as they get older.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1979 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published his description in a science journal. The plant's specific name, arachnoides, comes from a Latin word meaning 'cobwebby'. This refers to the long hairs found inside the flower tube, which look a bit like cobwebs.
Different Types of Eremophila arachnoides
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Eremophila arachnoides:
- Eremophila arachnoides Chinnock subsp. arachnoides: This type is also known as the spider web eremophila. It has leaves that are clearly hairy.
- Eremophila arachnoides subsp. tenera Chinnock : This type is called the slender-leaved eremophila. Its leaves are smooth and do not have hairs. The name tenera comes from Latin and means 'slender', describing its long, thin leaves.
Where it Lives
The arachnoides subspecies grows in small, separate areas east of Kumarina in Western Australia. It prefers to grow in shallow limestone soils.
The tenera subspecies is mostly found in different spots in western South Australia. However, there are also some separate groups of this plant in central Western Australia. This subspecies likes to grow in red, loamy soils that contain calcrete.
How it is Protected
The arachnoides subspecies is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia. This means we don't know a lot about it, and it's only found in a few places. However, it's not currently in immediate danger.
The tenera subspecies is listed as "Priority One". This means it's known from only one or a few locations, and these places could be at risk. So, it needs more protection.
Growing This Plant
This eremophila plant is popular in gardens because of its attractive leaves and flowers. The colorful fruits also add to its beauty. It can grow well in many different types of soil, but it prefers full sun. It can also grow in partial shade. This plant is very good at handling dry weather and can survive frosts.
You can grow new plants from cuttings, but it might take several months for them to grow roots. It can also be joined (grafted) onto another plant called Myoporum. After a few years, you can trim the plant lightly to help it keep a nice, compact shape.
