Eremophila incisa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eremophila incisa
Eremophila incisa leaves and flowers
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	incisa

Eremophila incisa is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is special because it only grows in Western Australia. It's a small bush with shiny leaves. These leaves have thick, tooth-like edges. Its flowers are fuzzy and can be mauve (light purple) or purple.

What Does Eremophila incisa Look Like?

Eremophila incisa is a small, spreading bush. It usually grows to be about 20 to 30 centimeters (8 to 12 inches) tall. Its branches are a bit flat near the ends. They can also feel sticky because of a natural resin (a sticky substance).

Leaves of the Plant

The leaves of this plant are thick and shiny. They are shaped like an egg or an oval. Each leaf is about 7 to 12 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long. They are also about 3.5 to 7 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide. A cool thing about these leaves is their edges. They are cut into sharp, spiny teeth. The leaves grow one after another along the stems. They also curve downwards a little.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of Eremophila incisa grow alone or in pairs. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a sticky stalk, about 9 to 18 millimeters (0.4 to 0.7 inches) long.

The flower has five green to purplish-brown sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are very hairy on the inside. The petals are joined together at the bottom. They form a tube about 16 to 23 millimeters (0.6 to 0.9 inches) long.

The outside of the flower tube is deep purple or mauve. Inside, it is white with yellow-brown spots. The outside of the tube and the petal tips are very hairy. But the inside of the petal tips is smooth. The inside of the tube is woolly. There are four stamens (the parts that make pollen) inside the flower tube.

This plant blooms from March to October. After the flowers, it grows woody fruits. These fruits are almost round. They have a fuzzy, papery covering. Each fruit is about 5.5 to 8.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) across.

Habit south of Newman

How Eremophila incisa Got Its Name

This plant was first officially described in 2007. A scientist named Robert Chinnock gave it its name. He wrote about it in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.

The second part of its name, incisa, is a Latin word. It means "made by cutting." This name was chosen because of the plant's leaves. They have those distinctive cut or toothed edges.

Where Eremophila incisa Grows

Eremophila incisa grows in Western Australia. You can find it on flat plains. It prefers shallow soils. It grows in the areas between Newman and Meekatharra. These areas are known as the Gascoyne, Murchison, and Pilbara regions.

Is Eremophila incisa Protected?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife checks on plants. They have classified Eremophila incisa as "not threatened." This means the plant is not currently in danger of disappearing.