Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
prostrata
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The Eremophila prostrata, also known as the Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is special because it is found only in the Northern Territory of Australia.
It's a low-growing shrub that spreads out across the ground. Its branches and leaves are smooth and hairless, and its flowers are a lovely purple color. You can find this plant in only a few scattered spots, covering a total area smaller than 50 hectares (about 120 acres).
Contents
What the Rainbow Valley Fuchsia Bush Looks Like
The Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush is a plant that grows flat on the ground, sometimes forming wide mats up to 80 cm (31 inches) across. When it's young, its new branches first grow upwards but then spread out sideways. The branches and leaves are smooth and can feel a bit sticky because of a natural sap called resin.
Its leaves grow one after another along the branches. They are oval-shaped, usually about 24 to 42 mm (1 to 1.7 inches) long and 1.6 to 3.0 mm (0.06 to 0.12 inches) wide. Each leaf has a clear line down the middle on its underside and often a few blunt teeth along its edges.
Flowers and Fruits
The purple flowers usually grow one by one, or sometimes in small groups of up to three, where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short, hairy stalk. Before the petals open, there are five green to purplish leaf-like parts called sepals that protect the flower bud. These sepals are about 10 to 13 mm (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long and are mostly smooth.
The petals are joined together at their base, forming a tube about 18 to 21 mm (0.7 to 0.8 inches) long. This petal tube is purple, with darker stripes inside. The outside of the petals and most of the tube are hairy, but the inside of the petals is smooth. The inside of the tube is filled with soft, woolly hairs. The four parts that make pollen, called stamens, are hidden completely inside the petal tube.
This plant usually flowers from June to September. After the flowers, it grows oval or nearly round fruits. These fruits are about 7.5 to 11 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and have a papery, hairy covering.
Naming the Plant
This plant was first officially named and described by a scientist named Robert Chinnock in 2007. He published his description in a book about Eremophila plants.
Where the Plant Grows
The Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush is only found in a small area south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. It grows on sandy plains and near sand hills. Sometimes, especially after a bushfire, you might see thousands of these plants. However, they don't seem to live very long. In 2006, at five out of the seven known locations, there were fewer than 50 individual plants.
Protecting the Rainbow Valley Fuchsia Bush
Because there are so few of these plants and they don't live very long, the Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush is listed as "vulnerable." This means it needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 helps protect it.
Growing This Plant in Gardens
Even though it's not widely known in gardens, the Rainbow Valley fuchsia bush has a lot of potential for planting. Its many dark purple flowers make it very attractive. It grows quickly but doesn't live for many years. We are still learning the best ways to grow it.
You can grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) or by grafting it onto another plant called Myoporum. It grows best in soil that drains water well and in a sunny spot. It can handle some dry weather and a bit of frost.
