Eremophila cordatisepala facts for kids

The Eremophila cordatisepala is a special flowering plant found only in parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. It belongs to the figwort family, also known as Scrophulariaceae. This plant is a small, grey bush with pretty purple or lilac flowers. A cool thing about its flowers is that they have heart-shaped parts called sepals at their base.

What Does Eremophila cordatisepala Look Like?

This plant is a small shrub that usually grows to be about 0.25 to 0.5 meters (10 to 20 inches) tall. Its leaves and branches are covered in soft, greyish or yellowish hairs. Unlike some other plants in its group, it isn't sticky or shiny.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of the Eremophila cordatisepala grow in an alternating pattern along its branches. They are shaped like an oval or a spear, usually about 7 to 18 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long and 2 to 5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) wide. Sometimes, their edges are a bit thick or rolled under.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short, slightly flat stalk, up to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long, which is also covered in hairs.

There are five green to purple sepals around the base of the flower. These sepals are hairy and start out shaped like a spear or an egg. As the flower grows, the sepals get bigger. After the flower blooms, they become heart-shaped and can be 9 to 17 millimeters (0.35 to 0.67 inches) long.

The petals of the flower are 16 to 26 millimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube. The outside of this tube is purple or lilac, while the inside is white with purple spots. The very inside of the tube is full of soft, woolly hairs. The four parts that make up the flower's center (called stamens) are hidden inside this tube.

After the flower, the plant produces oval or cone-shaped fruits. These fruits are woody with a papery covering and are about 7 to 9.5 millimeters (0.28 to 0.37 inches) long.

Where Does Eremophila cordatisepala Grow?

You can find Eremophila cordatisepala in the southwestern part of Queensland and the southeastern part of the Northern Territory in Australia. It usually grows on hillsides in reddish-brown clay soils.

How is Eremophila cordatisepala Used?

This plant is often grown in gardens because of its large, interesting sepals and its pretty silvery-grey leaves. These features make it a good choice for planting in pots or containers.

Growing This Plant

You can grow new Eremophila cordatisepala plants from cuttings. It likes to grow in full sun or a bit of shade, and it needs soil that drains water well. This plant can handle long dry periods, but very cold frost can harm it.

Conservation Status

In the Northern Territory, Eremophila cordatisepala is considered "near threatened," which means it could be at risk in the future. However, in Queensland, it is listed as of "least concern," meaning it is not currently at high risk there.