Eremophila rigens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eremophila rigens
Eremophila rigens leaves and flowers
Conservation status
Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	rigens

The Eremophila rigens is a special flowering plant found only in Western Australia. It belongs to the figwort family, which is called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is an upright shrub with long, stiff, smooth leaves. Its flowers are usually a pale lilac color or white.

What Does Eremophila rigens Look Like?

Eremophila rigens is a shrub or sometimes a small tree. It often has one main stem. This plant can grow to be about 1.5 to 3.5 meters (5 to 11 feet) tall. When the branches and leaves are young, they have many fine white hairs. But as they get older, they become smooth.

The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are grouped closely together near the ends of the branches. Each leaf is long and thin, like a line. They get narrower at both ends and are usually 51 to 89 millimeters (2 to 3.5 inches) long. They are also 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a sharp point at the end and a clear line (mid-vein) on its underside.

The Flowers and Fruits of Eremophila rigens

The flowers of Eremophila rigens grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They have stalks that are 10 to 28.5 millimeters (0.4 to 1.1 inches) long. There are five pink to purple parts called sepals. These sepals overlap each other and are hairy. They are shaped like a spear and are 11 to 22 millimeters (0.4 to 0.9 inches) long. The sepals have a very sharp point and become stiff when they dry out.

The petals of the flower are 20 to 31 millimeters (0.8 to 1.2 inches) long. They are joined at the bottom to form a tube. This petal tube is pale lilac to white and has hairs on the outside. Inside the petal tube, there are long, soft hairs. The four parts that hold pollen, called stamens, are completely hidden inside the petal tube.

Eremophila rigens usually flowers in September. After the flowers, oval-shaped fruits grow. These fruits are about 8 to 10.5 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They have a hairy, papery covering.

Where Does Eremophila rigens Grow?

This type of eremophila plant likes to grow in rocky hills. It also grows in clay areas along places where water flows, like small streams. You can find it between Mount Augustus and Ashburton Downs in a part of Western Australia called the Gascoyne region.

How is Eremophila rigens Protected?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eremophila rigens a special protection status. It is listed as "Priority Three". This means that not much is known about this plant, and it is only found in a few places. However, it is not in immediate danger of disappearing.

Images for kids

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  E. rigens growing north-east of Mount Augustus

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  E. rigens flower detail