Eremophila canaliculata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eremophila canaliculata
E. canaliculata growing near Newman
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	canaliculata

Eremophila canaliculata is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It is found only in one specific area near Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area, like a special local treasure! It's a small, bushy, and very fragrant shrub with leaves that have jagged edges and pretty mauve to blue flowers.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Eremophila canaliculata is a low, spreading shrub that grows to about 0.6 meters (2 feet) high and 1 meter (3 feet) wide. It has lots of leaves packed together, making it look very bushy. These leaves also smell very nice! They grow in a spiral pattern and are mostly 23-42 millimeters (about 1-1.5 inches) long and 4-8 millimeters (about 0.15-0.3 inches) wide. The leaves are covered in tiny hairs and have edges that look like saw teeth. There's also a cool groove running down the middle of the top surface of each leaf.

The flowers grow in small groups of up to three where the leaves meet the stem. They don't have a stalk, so they sit close to the branch. Each flower has five greenish-yellow, pointed sepals, which are like little leaves that protect the flower bud. These are about 10-17.5 millimeters (0.4-0.7 inches) long. The petals, which are the colorful parts, are 20-25 millimeters (0.8-1 inch) long. They are joined at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is usually white, lilac, or blue and is hairy on the outside. Inside the flower, there are four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen. They stay hidden inside the petal tube.

This plant usually flowers from June to September. After the flowers, it produces fruits that are dry, oval, or almost round. They have a papery, hairy covering and are about 6-10 millimeters (0.2-0.4 inches) long.

E. canaliculata leaves and flowers

Where Does This Plant Grow?

You can find Eremophila canaliculata growing between Newman and the Kennedy Range. This area is part of the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia. It likes to grow in sandy soils, on flat areas with stones, and on rocky hillsides.

Is This Plant Safe?

The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife says that Eremophila canaliculata is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.

Can We Grow This Plant in Gardens?

This plant hasn't been grown in gardens for a very long time, so we are still learning the best ways to care for it. It probably needs soil that drains water well, so its roots don't get too wet. People have had some success growing it by joining it onto other similar plants called Myoporum species. Since it grows in a hot, dry area, it might need extra water during the summer. It also doesn't like frost, so it needs to be protected from very cold weather.