Eremophila congesta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila congesta |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
|
| Species: |
congesta
|
Eremophila congesta is a beautiful flowering plant from the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. It grows only in a small part of central Western Australia. This plant is a grey-colored shrub with lots of crowded, hairy leaves and pretty lilac flowers that are white inside.
Contents
About the Plant
Eremophila congesta is an upright, bushy shrub. It can grow up to 1.3 m (4 ft) tall. Its branches and leaves are covered with fine grey hairs, making it look soft and fuzzy. The branches also feel rough because of the raised spots where leaves used to be.
The leaves are packed closely together and stand upright, almost hiding the branches. They are thick and shaped like narrow lines. Most leaves are about 12–23 mm (0.5–0.9 in) long and 1–2.5 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. They also have slightly thicker edges.
Flowers
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has 5 green to red sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are very hairy and about 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long.
The petals are 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and join together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is usually purple, lilac, or mauve on the outside. Inside, it's white with a few purple spots. The outside of the tube is mostly smooth, but the inside is full of soft, woolly hairs. The four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, are completely hidden inside the petal tube. This plant usually flowers from August to September.
Plant Name and History
Robert Chinnock first officially described this plant in 2007. He published its description in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. The first plant sample, called the type specimen, was collected in 1958 by a plant artist named Nathaniel Henry Speck. He found it about 10 km (6 mi) north of Wiluna.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, congesta, comes from a Latin word. It means "collected," "dense," or "thick." This name refers to how crowded the leaves are on this plant.
Where It Lives
This Eremophila plant grows in the Wiluna area of Western Australia. This region is known as the Murchison biogeographic region. You can find it growing on lateritic slopes, which are gentle hillsides made of a reddish, iron-rich soil. Sometimes, it grows in large groups, forming dense colonies.
Protecting the Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eremophila congesta as "Priority One". This means that the plant is only found in one or a few places. Because of this, these locations are potentially at risk, and the plant needs special protection to keep it safe.
Growing This Plant
People who love gardening might enjoy growing Eremophila congesta. Its crowded, silvery-grey leaves and pale to deep lilac flowers make it a very attractive plant. Gardeners often grow it by grafting it onto another plant called Myoporum. This helps it grow better.
It grows best in sunny spots with soil that drains water well. This plant can handle dry conditions, meaning it doesn't need a lot of water. However, it doesn't do well in frost, so it needs to be protected from very cold temperatures.
