Eremophila humilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila humilis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
humilis
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Eremophila humilis is a special kind of flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It grows only in Western Australia. This plant is a small, round bush with unique club-shaped leaves and pretty white, bell-shaped flowers. You can only find it in a small area near a place called Meekatharra.
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What Does Eremophila humilis Look Like?
Eremophila humilis is a dark green, rounded bush with many branches. It usually grows to be about 0.25 to 0.5 m (0.8 to 2 ft) tall. When the branches and leaves are young, they feel sticky and look shiny.
The leaves grow close together at the ends of the branches. They are usually 3 to 10 mm (0.1 to 0.4 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They are shaped like a line or a club and can feel lumpy because of special resin glands.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a slightly hairy stalk that is 4 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) long. The flower has 5 green to purple parts called sepals, which are pointed and about 6 to 9.5 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) long.
The petals are white and 6 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) long. They join together at the bottom to form a bell-shaped tube. The outside of this tube is a bit hairy, but the inside is smooth. There are 4 stamens (the parts that make pollen) that stick out from the end of the petal tube.
This plant flowers from June to September. After the flowers, it produces small, dry, woody fruits. These fruits are oval-shaped and about 4 to 4.5 mm (0.16 to 0.18 in) long.
How Eremophila humilis Got Its Name
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published his description in a book about Eremophila plants.
The second part of its scientific name, humilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "low" or "small." This name was chosen because the plant is a small, low-growing bush.
Where Does Eremophila humilis Live?
Eremophila humilis grows in a specific type of soil called clay loam. This soil is found on stony hills near a place called Mount Vernon. This area is north-west of Meekatharra, in a region of Western Australia known as the Gascoyne.
Protecting Eremophila humilis
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila humilis a special conservation status called "Priority One."
This means that the plant is only found in one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so it's very important to protect this unique plant to make sure it doesn't disappear.
