Eremophila decussata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila decussata |
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Eremophila (plant)
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decussata
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Eremophila decussata is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This special plant is only found in a few small, separate areas in Western Australia and South Australia. It's a small, spreading shrub with soft, silvery-grey leaves. Its flowers are a lovely lilac color, often with purple spots or streaks inside.
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What it Looks Like
Eremophila decussata is a shrub that spreads out, usually growing to about 0.5 m (2 ft) tall and 1 m (3 ft) wide. Its leaves and branches are covered in fine, greyish hairs, giving it a soft, silvery look. The leaves grow in pairs opposite each other along the stem. This arrangement makes them look like they are in four neat rows along the branches. Each leaf is usually about 4.5–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, shaped like an oval or an egg.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of Eremophila decussata grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a small stalk about 5.5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. Before the petals open, there are five slightly overlapping, hairy sepals that protect the bud. These sepals are shaped like a spear or an egg and are about 4–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
The petals themselves are quite long, about 22–28 mm (0.9–1 in). They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. The outside of this tube is a pretty lilac or mauve color. Inside, the tube is white, often decorated with purple spots or streaks. The outside of the tube and the petal tips have short hairs. But inside the tube, it's full of long, soft hairs. The four stamens (the parts that make pollen) are completely hidden inside this tube.
This plant usually flowers from September to October. After the flowers, it produces oval-shaped, hairy fruits that are about 5.5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 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, called the type specimen, was collected by Chinnock near Ooldea.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, decussata, comes from a Latin word. It refers to how the leaves are arranged on the stem. They are set up in a special way where each pair of leaves is at right angles to the pair below it, forming a cross shape. This is called a decussate arrangement.
Where it Grows
Eremophila decussata is found in different, separate areas. You can find it on the Nullarbor Plain, near Ooldea and Billa Kalina in South Australia. It also grows east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. This plant usually prefers to grow in rocky soils that don't have many nutrients. These soils are often rich in calcium carbonate, which makes them chalky.
Protecting This Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila decussata a special classification: "Priority One". This means that the plant is only known to grow in one or a few places. Because of this, these locations and the plants in them could be at risk, so they need to be protected.
Growing Eremophila decussata
This eremophila plant produces many flowers in spring and summer, making it very attractive. But even when it's not flowering, it's still a nice shrub to look at. You can grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant). Sometimes, it's grown by grafting it onto another plant called Myoporum.
For the best growth, Eremophila decussata needs soil that drains water well and a sunny spot. It can handle dry conditions (drought tolerant) and is also good at resisting frost. However, when the plant is young, very cold frosts might damage the tips of its branches.
