Eremophila retropila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila retropila |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
|
| Species: |
retropila
|
Eremophila retropila is a cool flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. It's special because it's only found in Western Australia – meaning it's endemic there! This plant is a shrub that stands tall and spreads out. It has fuzzy, greyish leaves that are packed together at the ends of its branches. Its flowers are a pretty lilac or violet color on the outside and white on the inside.
Contents
What Does Eremophila retropila Look Like?
Eremophila retropila is a shrub that can grow up to about 1.8 meters (or 6 feet) tall. Its branches and leaves are covered in a thick layer of soft, greyish-white hairs. The hairs on the branches are long and bend downwards, which is a unique feature!
The leaves are gathered close together at the ends of the branches. They are long and narrow, like a line, or slightly oval-shaped. Most leaves are about 15 to 32 millimeters (0.6 to 1.3 inches) long and 3 to 4.5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They feel soft and fuzzy because of all the grey hairs.
The Flowers
The flowers of Eremophila retropila grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a very hairy stalk that is about 9.5 to 11.5 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long.
Each flower has five green to dark purple sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. These sepals are long and narrow, about 9 to 13 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long, and are also very hairy.
The petals are joined together at their bottom to form a tube, like a small trumpet. This tube is about 16 to 21 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. The outside of the petal tube is a lovely violet or lilac color, but the inside is white with tiny violet spots. The outside of the petals is hairy, but the inside of the tube is filled with soft, woolly hairs! Inside the petal tube, there are four stamens (the parts that make pollen), and they are completely hidden.
When Does It Flower?
This plant usually blooms from August to September. After the flowers, it produces dry, oval-shaped fruits that are about 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long when they are fully grown.
How Did It Get Its Name?
This plant was officially described for the first time in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He wrote about it in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.
The special part of its name, retropila, comes from two Latin words:
- retro means "back" or "backwards"
- pilus means "hair" or "felt"
So, retropila refers to the hairs on its branches that bend backwards!
Where Does It Grow?
Eremophila retropila grows in Western Australia. You can find it on rocky, flat areas near a place called Meekatharra. This area is part of the Murchison region, which is a special area known for its unique plants and animals.
Protecting This Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila retropila a special classification: "Priority One".
What does "Priority One" mean? It means that this plant is only found in one or a few places, and those places could be at risk. So, it's very important to protect these areas to make sure this unique plant can continue to grow and thrive!
