Eremophila dendritica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila dendritica |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
dendritica
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Eremophila dendritica is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It grows only in the southern parts of Australia, which means it's endemic there. This plant is a small shrub with many branches that look tangled. Its branches, leaves, and flowers are covered in soft, dense hairs, making them feel like felt.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Eremophila dendritica is a small shrub that usually grows about 0.3 m (1 ft) to 0.5 m (2 ft) tall. Its branches are covered with a layer of white to yellowish hairs that look like tiny tree branches.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves grow in pairs and are almost round. They are also covered with a thick layer of hairs, making them feel like felt. Each leaf is usually about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) to 8.5 mm (0.3 in) wide.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem (these spots are called leaf axils). They do not have a stalk. Each flower has 5 narrow, pointed sepals. Sepals are small leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. These sepals are very hairy on both sides and are about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) to 7.5 mm (0.3 in) long.
The petals are 17 mm (0.7 in) to 26 mm (1 in) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube shape. The outside of this tube is a pretty lilac color. The inside is white with some faint spots. Both the inside and outside of the tube are hairy. However, the very tips of the petals are smooth and have no hairs.
Inside the petal tube are 4 stamens. Stamens are the parts of the flower that make pollen. These stamens are completely hidden inside the tube. This plant usually flowers from June to September. After flowering, it produces oval-shaped fruits that are woolly and about 4.5 mm (0.2 in) to 7 mm (0.3 in) long.
How It Was Named
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. His description was published in a book about Eremophila plants. The first plant specimen used to describe the species (called the type specimen) was collected by Chinnock near Rawlinna.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of the plant's scientific name, dendritica, comes from a Latin word. It means "tree-like." This name was chosen because of the branched hairs found on the plant's leaves.
Where It Grows
This Eremophila plant has been found in a few places. It grows near Commonwealth Hill Station in South Australia. It also grows from Rawlinna to the Plumridge Lakes area in Western Australia. You can find it growing in brown clay soils. Sometimes, it grows in areas with scattered bluebush shrubs.
Protecting This Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila dendritica a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Two." This means that not much is known about this plant. It has only been found in one or a few locations. This classification helps protect it.
Growing This Plant in Gardens
This Eremophila plant has woolly leaves and many flowers. This makes it a great plant to grow in gardens to create a nice contrast with other small shrubs.
How to Grow It
It is known that this plant can be grown by grafting. Grafting is a method where parts of two plants are joined together so they grow as one. For Eremophila dendritica, it is grafted onto Myoporum plants. When grafted, it can grow well in most types of soil. It grows best in full sun and does not need much water during dry periods. Young plants might get a little damaged by frost, but usually not too much.
