Eremophila hamulata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila hamulata |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
hamulata
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Eremophila hamulata is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. You can only find it growing in Western Australia. This plant is a tall, woody shrub with branches that feel a bit sticky. It has thin, hooked leaves and pretty mauve-purple flowers that are covered in tiny hairs.
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Discovering the Eremophila Hamulata Plant
Eremophila hamulata is a shrub that grows straight up. It can reach about 1 to 2 metres (around 3 to 6 feet) tall and just as wide. Its leaves are spread out along the branches, not directly opposite each other. They look a bit like needles, about 12 to 22 millimetres long (less than an inch). The cool thing about these leaves is their hooked tip!
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a stalk about 12 to 15 millimetres long. This stalk is a bit hairy near its base. Before the flower opens, it's protected by five green, sticky sepals. These are like small leaves that are 5 to 7 millimetres long.
The petals of the flower are a lovely mauve-purple colour. They are 10 to 20 millimetres long and join together at the bottom to form a bell-shaped tube. The outside of this tube is hairy, and there's even a tuft of hairs inside! The four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, are hidden inside the petal tube. You can usually see this plant flowering from August to October.
Naming the Eremophila Hamulata Plant
The scientific name Eremophila hamulata was first officially described in 2016. Two scientists, Bevan Buirchell and Andrew Brown, wrote about it in a journal called Nuytsia.
The second part of its name, hamulata, comes from a Latin word, hamatus. This word means "with hooks" or "hooked". This name perfectly describes the plant's unique leaves, which have a little hook at the end!
Where Eremophila Hamulata Grows
This type of eremophila plant is found in a few different spots in Western Australia. You can see it growing between places called McDermid Rock and Boorabbin Rock. It usually likes to grow near big granite rocks or close to creeks in areas with lots of trees. This region is known as the Coolgardie biogeographic region.
Protecting Eremophila Hamulata
Eremophila hamulata is considered a "Priority One" plant by the Government of Western Australia. This means it's a very special plant that needs our help! It's only found in a few places, and those places could be at risk. Protecting these areas helps make sure this unique plant can keep growing for many years to come.
