Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans |
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| E. glabra albicans growing near Kalbarri | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | |
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E. g. subsp. albicans
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| Trinomial name | |
| Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans (Bartl.) Chinnock
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Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans is a special type of plant found only in Western Australia. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is a bit like other shrubs in the Eremophila glabra group. But you can tell it apart by its soft, grey leaves and its dull yellow, orange, or red flowers. It often grows in sandy areas, like sand dunes and rocky limestone spots, between Bunbury and Shark Bay.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans is a small, spreading shrub. It usually grows up to about 0.4 metres (1 ft) tall. Sometimes, it can spread out to 2 metres (7 ft) wide. Its stems often feel rough or hairy. The leaves look grey because they are covered in tiny, soft hairs. These leaves are shaped like an oval or a spear. They are usually 15–30 millimetres (0.6–1 in) long and 4–7 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) wide.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of this plant are dull yellow, orange, or red. They grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short stalk, about 1.5–5 millimetres (0.06–0.2 in) long. The flower has five sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. It also has five petals that form a tube. The lowest petal is thinner and bends back under the flower. This plant flowers from May to January. After the flowers, it grows oval-shaped fruits that are about 5–6 millimetres (0.2–0.2 in) long.
How This Plant Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described in 1845 by a scientist named Friedrich Gottlieb Bartling. He gave it the name Stenochilus albicans. He wrote about it in a book called Plantae Preissianae. The first plant used for this description was found near Fremantle. Later, in 2007, another scientist named Robert Chinnock decided that it was a special type, or subspecies, of Eremophila glabra.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
You can find Eremophila glabra subsp. albicans along the coast of Western Australia. It grows in sandy soil on sand dunes. It also likes to grow on limestone rocks near the ocean. Its home stretches from Bunbury all the way up to Shark Bay.
