Eremophila gracillima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila gracillima |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
gracillima
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Eremophila gracillima is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, also known as Scrophulariaceae. This plant is only found in Western Australia, which means it's endemic there. It's a small, spreading bush with thin leaves. Its pretty flowers are usually lilac or violet. You can only find this plant in a small area near Mount Vernon.
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What Does Eremophila gracillima Look Like?
Eremophila gracillima is a low, spreading bush. It usually grows to be less than 0.5 metres (2 ft) tall. Its branches and leaves are often sticky and shiny. This is because they have a lot of resin, which is like a natural sticky sap.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stems. They are usually 10–28 mm (0.4–1 in) long. They are very thin, less than 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The edges of the leaves are folded under. This creates a small channel on the bottom side.
The flowers grow one by one, or sometimes in pairs. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a sticky stalk. These stalks are usually 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long.
Petals and Stamens
Each flower has five sepals. Sepals are small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. These sepals are sticky and green. They are shaped like a lance or an egg. They measure 2–5.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. They have hairs mostly on their inside surface.
The petals are 13–19 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is lilac to violet in color. Inside, it is white with violet spots. The outside of the tube and the petal tips are hairy. The inside of the tips is smooth, but the inside of the tube is hairy. There are four stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are completely hidden inside the flower tube.
Flowering and Fruits
Eremophila gracillima flowers from June to September. After flowering, it produces oval-shaped fruits. These fruits have a shiny, hairy, papery covering. They are about 6–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
How Was This Plant Named?
The plant was first officially described in 2007. This was done by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. His description was published in a book about Eremophila plants.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, gracillima, comes from Latin. The word gracilis means "slender." So, gracillima means "most slender." This name refers to the very thin leaves of this plant.
Where Does Eremophila gracillima Live?
You can find Eremophila gracillima near Mount Vernon. This area is in the Gascoyne and Murchison regions of Western Australia. It likes to grow on rocky, flat areas.
Is This Plant Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this plant a special status. It is classified as "Priority Three." This means we don't know a lot about it yet. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
