Shining poverty bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shining poverty bush |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
|
| Species: |
lucida
|
The Eremophila lucida, also called the shining poverty bush, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. It's a tall bush with sticky, shiny leaves and branches. Its flowers can be red with dark spots inside, or they can be creamy white with no spots.
Contents
What it Looks Like
The shining poverty bush is a smooth plant. Its leaves and branches are sticky and shiny. This is because they have a lot of resin, which is a sticky substance.
This bush can grow from about 0.5 to 3.5 meters (1.6 to 11.5 feet) tall. Its branches have small raised lines under where the leaves join. The leaves grow one after another along the branches. Each leaf has a raised bump where it connects to the branch.
The leaves are usually 54 to 85 millimeters (2.1 to 3.3 inches) long. They are also 7 to 15 millimeters (0.28 to 0.59 inches) wide. Their shape is long and narrow, or like an oval. They have tiny raised bumps called resin glands all over them.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers usually grow one by one from where the leaves meet the stem. They are on a flat, smooth stalk that is 13 to 25 millimeters (0.51 to 0.98 inches) long. There are five sticky, smooth sepals that overlap. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They are usually 8.5 to 15 millimeters (0.33 to 0.59 inches) long. They can be pale yellow, greenish yellow, or red with a hint of blue.
The petals are 25 to 35 millimeters (0.98 to 1.4 inches) long. They are joined at the bottom to form a tube shape. This petal tube can be yellow with no spots. Or it can be deep red with clear, darker spots inside the tube and on the lowest petal part. The outside of the petal tube is smooth. But the inside has special glandular hairs. The four stamens, which hold the pollen, stick out past the end of the petal tube.
This plant flowers between August and October. After the flowers, small fruits grow. They are almost round and slightly flat. They have a papery covering and are 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) long.
Plant Name and History
The Eremophila lucida was first officially described in 2007. This was done by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He wrote about it in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.
The second part of its scientific name, lucida, comes from a Latin word. It means "clear" or "bright." This name was chosen because of the shiny leaves of this plant.
Where it Grows
The shining poverty bush is only found in two small areas. These areas are between Hyden and Norseman in Western Australia. One area is near Lake Cronin, and the other is near Lake Cowan. It likes to grow in sandy soil close to salty, low-lying areas.
Protecting the Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed this plant as "Priority One." This means that the shining poverty bush is only known in one or a few places. These places might be at risk, so it's very important to protect this plant.
Growing it in Gardens
This large bush has bright green leaves. Its pink or white flowers look great against them, making it a nice plant for gardens. It grows quickly, but sometimes it doesn't live for a very long time. It is a tough plant and doesn't need much water during long dry periods. It can also handle frost.
You can grow new plants from cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow roots. It grows best in soil that drains water well. It also likes a sunny spot or a place with some shade.
