Eremophila barbata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila barbata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
barbata
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Eremophila barbata is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is found only in a small part of South Australia, on the Eyre Peninsula. It's quite rare and grows as a small, spreading bush. You can easily spot it by the "beard" of hairs on the lower part of its pretty lilac-colored flowers.
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What Eremophila barbata Looks Like
Eremophila barbata is a bush that spreads out. It can grow up to 1 m (3 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) wide. Its branches can look a bit lumpy because they have small, wart-like bumps called tubercles.
The leaves of this plant grow one after another along the stem. They are usually 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 3–7.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide. Their shape is like an egg, but with the narrower end at the bottom. The leaves are often grouped together near the ends of the stems and have a slightly bluish-green color.
The Flowers of Eremophila barbata
The flowers usually grow one by one where a leaf meets the stem. They don't have a stalk. Each flower has 5 green, narrow, triangle-shaped parts called sepals, which are 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long.
There are also 5 petals, about 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long. These petals are joined together at their base to form a tube. The tube and the petal parts at its end are a lovely lilac color. They don't have any spots and are smooth on the outside, meaning they are glabrous.
The most interesting part is the lower, middle petal lobe and the inside of the petal tube. These areas are covered with long, soft hairs, which is why the plant is called "barbata," meaning "bearded."
Naming and Discovery
The plant Eremophila barbata was first officially described in 1985. A scientist named Robert Chinnock wrote about it in a journal called The Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
The very first plant specimen used to describe the species, known as the type specimen, was collected by Chinnock himself in 1979. He found it in the Hincks National Park. The second part of its scientific name, barbata, comes from a Latin word that means "bearded." This name perfectly describes the hairy flowers!
Where Eremophila barbata Lives
This special Eremophila plant is only found in two small areas. Both locations are on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
You can find it in the Hincks Wilderness Protection Area and near a place called Ungarra. It likes to grow in rocky clay soil. It often grows as an understorey plant, which means it grows beneath taller trees in areas known as mallee woodlands.
Protecting Eremophila barbata
Eremophila barbata is a very important plant to protect. It is listed as "endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever if we don't protect it.
It was also listed as "rare" in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. These lists help people know which plants and animals need special care to survive.
Growing Eremophila barbata in Gardens
Because of its long, arching branches, Eremophila barbata is a great plant for gardens. It looks lovely in a rockery or hanging over a wall.
This plant can live for a long time in a garden; some have grown for more than 30 years! You can grow new plants from cuttings. It can grow in many different types of soil and in various sunny or shady spots. However, young plants can be damaged by frost, so they need a bit of protection when they are small.
