Eremophila grandiflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila grandiflora |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
grandiflora
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Eremophila grandiflora is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This special plant grows only in Western Australia. It is a large shrub with shiny leaves. Its flowers are the biggest in its plant group, called a genus. You can only find this plant in a small area near Paynes Find.
Contents
What it Looks Like
Eremophila grandiflora is a large shrub. It can grow up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall. It can also spread out to 4 metres (10 ft) wide. Its branches are sticky and shiny. This is because they have a thick layer of resin, which is like a natural sticky sap.
Branches and Leaves
The branches also have small raised glands. Younger branches are often hairy. The leaves grow one after another along the stem. Their stalks are about 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long. The leaf blades are 42–92 mm (2–4 in) long and 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide. They are shaped like an oval or a spear. They are usually sticky with resin too.
Flowers
The flowers usually grow one by one. They appear where a leaf meets the stem. Each flower has a flat, hairy stalk about 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) long. There are five sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud. These sepals are pale reddish-pink and pointed. They are 30–48 mm (1–2 in) long and overlap each other.
The petals are 52–68 mm (2–3 in) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is brown with darker marks. The ends of the petals spread out. They are pale lilac-blue or almost white. They have purple or brown spots near their bases and inside the tube. The outside of the flower tube and petal ends is hairy. The inside is mostly smooth, or glabrous. The four stamens, which hold the pollen, stick out beyond the end of the tube. This plant flowers from June to early September.
How it Got its Name
Taxonomy
The plant was first officially described in 2007. This was done by two scientists, Andrew Brown and Bevan Buirchell. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, grandiflora, comes from Latin words. "Grandi" means "great" or "large." "Flora" means "flowered." So, Eremophila grandiflora means "large-flowered Eremophila." This name fits well because it has the biggest flowers in its plant group!
Where it Grows
Eremophila grandiflora is common in a small area. This area is near Paynes Find in Western Australia. It grows in a special region called Yalgoo. You can find it in stony clay soils. It often grows along natural water paths or on slopes.
Protecting the Plant
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 much about it yet. It is found in only a few places. However, it is not in immediate danger of disappearing.
