Eremophila pusilliflora facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila pusilliflora |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
pusilliflora
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Eremophila pusilliflora is a special flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It is found only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic to that area. This plant is a small, open shrub with narrow, egg-shaped leaves. Its flowers can be different colors, from red to cream with a touch of red. You can find this plant growing in the Pilbara region.
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What Does Eremophila pusilliflora Look Like?
Eremophila pusilliflora is an open shrub that usually grows to be about 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) tall. It can spread out to be 50 to 100 cm (20 to 39 in) wide.
Its leaves are arranged one after another along the stems. They are shaped like a narrow egg and are about 6 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 in) long and 2 to 5 mm (0.08 to 0.2 in) wide. These leaves often grow in small groups at the ends of the branches.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a stalk that is covered in soft, woolly hairs, and it's about 4 to 7 mm (0.16 to 0.28 in) long.
Before the petals, there are 5 green sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals turn a reddish-pink color as they get older. They are about 11 to 15 mm (0.43 to 0.59 in) long and 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.20 in) wide.
The petals of the flower can be many different colors, including red, pink, or purple. Sometimes, they are cream-colored with a hint of red. The petals are 8 to 10 mm (0.31 to 0.39 in) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a bell-shaped tube. This tube has a few tiny, sticky hairs both inside and out.
There are four stamens, which are the parts of the flower that make pollen. These stamens stick out beyond the end of the petal tube. This plant mainly flowers from April to September.
How Eremophila pusilliflora Got Its Name
The plant Eremophila pusilliflora was officially described for the first time in 2016. This was done by two scientists, Bevan Buirchell and Andrew Brown. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Before it got its official name, people knew this plant as Eremophila sp. 'Princess Range'. The second part of its name, pusilliflora, comes from two Latin words. The word pusillus means "little," and flos means "flower."
So, the name pusilliflora means "little flower." This name was chosen because its flowers are smaller than those of a similar plant called "E. forrestii.
Where Eremophila pusilliflora Lives
This type of eremophila plant grows in the Pilbara biogeographic region of Western Australia. You can find it on rocky hilltops. It also grows in areas with low shrubs on plains. These plains often get flooded during the winter, and the water then drains into the Ashburton River.
Protecting Eremophila pusilliflora
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila pusilliflora a special status called "Priority Two."
This means that not much is known about this plant, and it has only been found in one or a few places. Because it's so rare and not well-studied, it's important to protect it so it doesn't disappear.
