Eremophila regia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila regia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
regia
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| Synonyms | |
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Eremophila sp. 'Princess Range' |
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Eremophila regia is a small shrub with pretty pink to red flowers. It has thin, thread-like leaves and is only found in Western Australia. This special plant grows on rocky hilltops in the Princess Ranges.
Description
Eremophila regia is a shrub that usually grows to about 20 to 30 centimeters tall. It can spread out to be 30 to 50 centimeters wide. Its branches are gray to black and have small bumps.
The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are green and have tiny bumps. Each leaf looks like a thin thread or line. They are about 5 to 11 millimeters long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. The leaves are attached directly to the stem without a stalk.
The flowers grow one by one where a leaf meets the stem. They sit on a slightly curved stalk about 5 to 9 millimeters long. There are five green to dark pink leaf-like parts called sepals. They are shaped like a spearhead, about 8 to 9 millimeters long, and curve backward.
The main part of the flower is a tube of petals. It is pinkish-red and about 8 to 12 millimeters long. This tube does not have any spots. Both its inside and outside are covered in tiny, sticky hairs. The four parts that hold pollen (stamens) and the central part (style) stick out past the end of the flower tube. This plant usually blooms between June and August. But it can also flower at other times if there has been rain.
Taxonomy and naming
This plant was officially named in 2016 by two scientists, Bevan Buirchell and Andrew Phillip Brown. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. They found samples of the plant in the Princess Ranges in 2004.
Its special name, regia, comes from a Latin word. Regius means "royal" or "regal". This name was chosen because of where the first plant samples were found.
Distribution and habitat
Eremophila regia is only found in a few places in Western Australia. It grows in the Princess Ranges and on Prenti Downs. These areas are found to the east and west of Lake Carnegie.
This plant likes to grow on rocky hilltops. It lives in areas with low, scattered bushes. These areas are part of the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
Conservation
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila regia a special classification. It is called "Priority One". This means the plant is known from only one or a few locations. These places could be at risk, so the plant needs to be protected.
