Eremophila cuneata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila cuneata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
cuneata
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Eremophila cuneata is a special flowering plant that grows only in the Shark Bay area of Western Australia. It's a small shrub that is rarely seen. This plant has unique wedge-shaped leaves and pretty white or cream-colored flowers. It belongs to the figwort family, also known as Scrophulariaceae.
About This Plant
Eremophila cuneata is a low-growing shrub. It has many branches that can look a bit tangled and lumpy. The tips of its branches are often sticky. This plant usually grows to be about 1 m (3 ft) tall.
Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stems. They are about 9.5–23 mm (0.4–0.9 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The leaves are thick, a bit fleshy, and have a distinct wedge shape.
The flowers of Eremophila cuneata are not very well known. Scientists have only seen one young flower on the first plant ever studied. These flowers seem to grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They are on a small stalk about 2.5–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.
Each flower has 5 narrow, triangle-shaped parts called sepals, which are about 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long. The petals are 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. They join together at the bottom to form a short tube. This makes the flowers look a bit like those from the Myoporum plant group. The petal tube is white or cream-colored and smooth, meaning it has no hairs. Inside the tube, there are 4 stamens (the parts that make pollen) that are completely hidden.
This plant flowers from November to December. After flowering, it produces fruits. These fruits are fleshy, oval-shaped, or almost round, and about 6–7 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long.
How It Got Its Name
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published its description in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.
The very first plant specimen used to describe the species was collected by Malcolm Trudgen near Steep Point. The second part of its scientific name, cuneata, comes from a Latin word. It means "wedge-shaped," which perfectly describes the shape of the plant's leaves.
Where This Plant Lives
Eremophila cuneata is very rare. So far, only three plants have been seen by Malcolm Trudgen. They were found in the Steep Point area. These plants grow below limestone rocks in sandy soil that contains a lot of calcium. This area is part of the Yalgoo biogeographic region.
Protecting Eremophila cuneata
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila cuneata a special classification: "Priority One".
This means that the plant is known from only one or a few places. Because of this, these locations and the plants themselves could be at risk. This classification helps protect the plant and its habitat, making sure it can continue to grow in the wild.
