Eremophila obliquisepala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila obliquisepala |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
obliquisepala
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Eremophila obliquisepala is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family. You can only find it growing naturally in Western Australia. This plant is a small, bushy shrub. It has leaves with jagged edges and pretty blue or purple flowers. Its sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, have an unusual shape.
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Discovering Eremophila obliquisepala
Eremophila obliquisepala is a neat, rounded shrub. It usually grows to be about 20 to 50 centimeters (8 to 20 inches) tall. Its leaves are placed one after another along the stems. They are typically 14 to 29 millimeters (about 0.5 to 1 inch) long. The leaves are shaped like a spear or an egg. They feel a bit hairy and have jagged edges, like a saw.
What the Flowers Look Like
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a hairy stalk, usually about 48 millimeters (nearly 2 inches) long. There are five hairy sepals that overlap each other. These sepals are 8 to 15 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. They get bigger after the flower blooms.
The sepals are green with a hint of purple. They are egg-shaped or heart-shaped, but they are not perfectly even. The largest sepal grows from the side of the stalk. The petals of the flower are 20 to 30 millimeters (about 0.8 to 1.2 inches) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube.
Flower Colors and Features
The outside of the petal tube is blue to purple. Inside, it is white with brown or purple spots. The outside of the petal tube and its parts are hairy. But the inside of the petal parts is smooth. The inside of the tube is full of long, soft hairs. There are four stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are completely hidden inside the petal tube.
When it Flowers and Fruits
Eremophila obliquisepala flowers from June to August. After the flowers, it produces fruits. These fruits are woody and shaped like an oval or almost a ball. They are 8 to 10.5 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. Each fruit has a hairy, yellow, papery covering.
Naming and Classification
The plant was officially described for the first time in 2007. This was done by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. His description was published in a book about Eremophila plants. The second part of its scientific name, obliquisepala, comes from Latin words. "Obliqui-" means 'with sides unequal'. "Sepala" means 'sepals'. This name refers to how the sepals are uneven at their base.
Where Eremophila obliquisepala Grows
You can find Eremophila obliquisepala growing in Western Australia. It lives in the areas between Meekatharra and Byro Station. It prefers to grow on stony plains and sandy flat areas.
Protecting This Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this plant as "Priority Three". This means that not a lot is known about it. It has only been found in a few places. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing.
Growing Eremophila obliquisepala in Gardens
This small shrub has several attractive features for gardens. Its leaves have even, jagged edges. It has large blue flowers and big, yellow fruits. These make it a pretty plant to look at.
You can grow new plants from cuttings. However, it can sometimes be hard to keep it healthy on its own roots. It is often better to join it onto the roots of another plant called Myoporum. This is called grafting.
This plant is great for a rockery garden. It grows best in full sun and in soil that drains water well. It only needs water occasionally during long dry periods. It has been grown in gardens in drier parts of Victoria. However, people are still learning how well it handles frost.
