Eremophila crenulata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eremophila crenulata
E. crenulata leaves and flowers
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	crenulata

The Eremophila crenulata is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant grows naturally only in the far west of Western Australia. We say it is endemic to that area.

This plant is a large shrub. You can easily spot it by its wide leaves. These leaves have cool, wavy edges. The flowers of Eremophila crenulata can be white, pink, or blue. Sometimes, they are even purple!

What Eremophila crenulata Looks Like

Eremophila crenulata is a shrub that grows to be about 0.5 to 2.0 meters (about 1.5 to 6.5 feet) tall. Its stems can look a bit lumpy. This is because of the old leaf bases. The stems are often sticky too. This stickiness comes from a natural resin the plant makes.

The leaves grow one after another along the stems. They are usually 17 to 31 millimeters (about 0.7 to 1.2 inches) long. They are also 4.5 to 10 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The leaves are shiny and sticky, just like the stems. The most special thing about them is their wavy edges. These edges have rounded teeth. Each leaf has a clear line down the middle on its underside. The top surface has tiny dents.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers grow either alone or in pairs. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a stalk that is about 8.5 to 13 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. These stalks can be a bit hairy.

Each flower has five sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are cream-colored to reddish-purple. They can be different sizes and shapes. But they are mostly 6 to 16 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.6 inches) long.

The petals of the flower are 11 to 22 millimeters (about 0.4 to 0.9 inches) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube shape. The outside of this tube is white to lilac-colored. Inside, it is white with lilac or purple spots. Most of the petal tube is smooth. But the inside has long, soft hairs. There are four stamens inside the tube. Stamens are the parts that make pollen. They are either fully hidden inside the tube or just as long as it.

Eremophila crenulata usually flowers from August to October. After the flowers, the plant grows fruits. These fruits are oval or cone-shaped. They have clear ribs on them. The fruits are about 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.

Where Eremophila crenulata Grows

This type of eremophila plant is found in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows between Coburn Station and Gascoyne Junction. This area includes the Carnarvon and Gascoyne regions. You can find it growing in red sandy soils. It also likes to grow on sand dunes and near shallow lakes.

How We Use Eremophila crenulata

People like to grow Eremophila crenulata in gardens. Its shiny leaves look great next to its white or pale lilac flowers. This makes it a very attractive medium-sized shrub.

It can be a bit tricky to grow new plants from seeds or cuttings. It's often easier to join it onto other Myoporum plants. This is called grafting. This plant prefers soil that drains water well. Once it is growing strong, it can handle dry weather. However, it doesn't like frost very much.

Images for kids

• 

  E. crenulata growing near the Overlander Roadhouse