Eremophila laanii facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eremophila laanii
Eremophila laanii in Geelong Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	laanii
Synonyms
Pholidia laanii (F.Muell) Kraenzl.

Eremophila laanii is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family, also known as Scrophulariaceae. This plant is special because it grows naturally only in Western Australia. It's usually a shrub or a small tree with lots of branches that can look a bit tangled. Its flowers come in different colors! You'll mostly find this plant growing near the upper parts of rivers and their flat banks.

What it Looks Like

Eremophila laanii is a shrub or small tree. It usually grows about 1–3 m (3–10 ft) tall, but sometimes it can grow twice as high! This plant can also send out new shoots from its roots. Its branches spread out or droop down and are covered with soft, fine hairs.

The leaves of Eremophila laanii are long and narrow, or sometimes oval-shaped. They are usually about 26–40 mm (1–2 in) long and 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) wide. Some leaves are smooth and hairless, while others have fine hairs.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They are usually found in bunches near the ends of the branches. Each flower sits on a hairy stalk that is about 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.

Each flower has 5 green, egg-shaped sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are about 7.5–10.5 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. They are smooth on the outside but hairy on the inside.

The petals are about 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. This petal tube can be pink to red, sometimes with pink spots inside. Other times, it's cream-colored with no spots. The outside of the tube is mostly smooth, but the inside is full of long, soft hairs. The four stamens (the parts that make pollen) stick out beyond the end of the petal tube.

Eremophila laanii flowers from June to December. After flowering, it produces woody, oval-shaped fruits. These fruits have a pointed end and are about 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. They have a thin, papery covering.

How it Got its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1884 by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He published his description in a magazine called Australasian Chemist and Druggist. The first plant specimen used to describe the species was collected near Mount Hale, along the Upper Murchison River.

The second part of the plant's scientific name, laanii, was chosen to honor Dr. van der Laan. He was a Dutch person in the 1800s who helped promote scientific research.

Where it Grows

Eremophila laanii grows in Western Australia. You can find it on clay or sandy clay soils. It likes to grow on floodplains and along riverbanks. Specifically, it lives along the upper parts of the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers.

This plant can spread by sending out new shoots from its roots. Because of this, it often forms thick, dense patches.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eremophila laanii as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.

Using it in Gardens

Eremophila laanii is a popular plant for gardens. It's a large, strong shrub that works well in big gardens where it has plenty of space. People often use it as a "screening plant" to create a natural fence or privacy screen.

It's quite easy to grow this plant from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) or from its root shoots. It can grow in most types of soil, especially heavy clay. Even though it grows naturally near rivers and can handle dry periods, it blooms best after a good watering. It can also handle cold weather and frost. To keep it looking good and healthy, it sometimes needs to be pruned (trimmed) to remove dead wood and keep its shape.