Eremophila pendulina facts for kids

The Eremophila pendulina is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It grows naturally only in Western Australia, meaning it's endemic there. This plant is a tall, thin, weeping shrub with narrow leaves. You can spot its pretty purple, mauve, or white flowers in autumn and early spring.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

The Eremophila pendulina is a thin, open shrub that can grow between 1.8 and 3 metres (about 6 to 10 feet) tall. It usually has one main stem that branches out only near the top. Its branches are thin, weak, and droopy, looking a bit like they're weeping. They are a dull reddish-brown color and often look shiny or white because of dried resin on them.

Leaves and Branches

The leaves of this plant are mostly arranged one after another, but they can also be found in small groups near the ends of the branches. They are long and thin, about 9 to 24 millimetres (0.35 to 0.94 inches) long and only about 1 millimetre (0.04 inches) wide. These leaves have many tiny, raised bumps called resin glands, which make them sticky and shiny.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem, on a hairy stalk that is 6 to 10 millimetres (0.24 to 0.39 inches) long. Each flower has five green to purple parts called sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the bud. These sepals are 6 to 9.5 millimetres (0.24 to 0.37 inches) long.

The petals of the flower are 18 to 28 millimetres (0.71 to 1.1 inches) long and are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube can be white to lilac, often darker on top, and cream to yellow inside with purple or violet spots. The outside of the flower tube and its petal tips are hairy, but the inside of the tips is smooth. The inside of the tube is filled with soft, woolly hairs. There are four stamens (the parts that produce pollen) hidden inside the petal tube.

The Eremophila pendulina flowers from June to September. After the flowers, the plant produces dry, oval-shaped, woody fruits. These fruits are hairy, about 6 to 7 millimetres (0.24 to 0.28 inches) long, and have a papery covering.

How Was This Plant Named?

The Eremophila pendulina was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published its description in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.

The second part of its scientific name, pendulina, comes from the Latin word pendulus, which means "hanging". This name was chosen because the plant's leaves tend to hang downwards, giving it a weeping look.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

The Eremophila pendulina grows in sandy soil mixed with clay on rocky hills. You can find it in Western Australia, specifically between the towns of Meekatharra and Cobra Station, which is west of Mount Augustus. These areas are part of the Gascoyne and Murchison regions, which are special areas defined by their unique plants and animals.

Is This Plant in Danger?

Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this plant as "not threatened". This means that, for now, there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not considered to be at risk of disappearing.