Eremophila ferricola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila ferricola |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
ferricola
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Eremophila ferricola is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. This plant is an upright shrub with leaves shaped like a spear and flowers that are yellowish-brown to greenish-yellow. These flowers are covered in soft, fine hairs. Eremophila ferricola is quite rare, known only from one spot. It grows on a hill made of iron-rich rock.
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What Eremophila ferricola Looks Like
Eremophila ferricola is an upright shrub that can grow between 1–3 m (3–10 ft) tall. It can also spread out to be 1–2 m (3–7 ft) wide. Its branches are warty and smooth, meaning they have no hairs (this is called glabrous).
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant are green and grow one after another along the stem. They are shaped like a spear, measuring 25–90 mm (1–4 in) long and 6–30 mm (0.2–1 in) wide. Each leaf has a clear line down the middle.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on a smooth stalk that is 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long. Each flower has five sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are 7–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. They are bright green to greenish-brown and mostly smooth, except for some matted hairs at their tips.
The petals of the flower are yellowish-brown to greenish-yellow. They are 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is covered inside and out with short, soft hairs. Inside the flower, there are four stamens (the parts that make pollen) that stick out beyond the end of the petal tube. This plant usually flowers from July to September.
Naming and Discovery of Eremophila ferricola
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2016 by two scientists, Bevan Buirchell and Andrew Brown. They published their description in a scientific journal called Nuytsia.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of the plant's name, ferricola, tells us something important about it. It comes from two Latin words:
- ferrum, which means "iron"
- -cola, which means "dweller" or "inhabitant"
So, ferricola means "iron dweller." This name was chosen because the plant lives in places with iron-rich soil.
Where Eremophila ferricola Lives
This special Eremophila plant is only found in one small area near Mullewa in Western Australia. This area is part of the Yalgoo biogeographic region. It grows in soil that has a lot of iron, usually near the top of hills made of ironstone. It lives in dense shrubland, which means an area with many shrubs growing close together.
Protecting Eremophila ferricola
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila ferricola a special protection status called "Priority One." This means that the plant is known from only one or a few locations. Because of this, it is at risk and needs to be carefully protected to make sure it doesn't disappear.
