Eremophila rugosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila rugosa |
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| Eremophila rugosa leaves and flowers | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: |
E. rugosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila rugosa Chinnock
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Eremophila rugosa is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is special because it is only found in Western Australia. It grows as a straight shrub with sticky, shiny leaves. Its flowers can be pink, purple, or mauve.
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What Eremophila rugosa Looks Like
Eremophila rugosa is a shrub that stands upright. It usually grows to be about 0.5 to 2 metres (1.6 to 6.6 feet) tall. Its branches and leaves feel sticky and look shiny. This is because they have a natural sticky substance called resin on them.
The branches have small ridges and fine, branched hairs. However, the resin often covers these hairs. The leaves grow one after another along the branches. They are usually 7.5 to 25 millimetres (0.3 to 1 inch) long. They are about 1 millimetre (0.04 inches) wide. The leaves are shaped like thin cylinders, and they are also sticky and shiny.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on stalks that are 5 to 15 millimetres (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. These stalks are also sticky and shiny. They have some branched hairs near their base.
Each flower has five green, sometimes purple, leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals are 2 to 6.5 millimetres (0.08 to 0.26 inches) long. The petals are 10.5 to 15 millimetres (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube shape.
The outside of the petal tube is pink, purple, or mauve. Inside, it is white with small lilac-coloured spots. The petal tube has tiny glandular hairs on it. The inside of the tube is also full of long, soft hairs. The flower has four stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. These stamens are hidden inside the petal tube.
Eremophila rugosa mainly flowers between August and October. After flowering, it produces fruits. These fruits are dry and have ridges. They are shaped like a pear or a cone. They are 3.8 to 4.5 millimetres (0.15 to 0.18 inches) long. The fruits are smooth and do not have hairs.
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How Eremophila rugosa Got Its Name
Robert Chinnock officially described Eremophila rugosa for the first time in 2007. He published its description in a book about Eremophila plants.
The second part of its scientific name, rugosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "wrinkled" or "creased." This name was chosen because the plant's branches, leaves, and fruits can look wrinkled.
Where Eremophila rugosa Grows
This eremophila plant likes to grow in loamy soils. Loamy soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay. It is often found in Eucalyptus woodland areas. These woodlands are on gently rolling plains.
You can find Eremophila rugosa between the towns of Norseman and Coolgardie. These areas are part of the Coolgardie and Murchison biogeographic regions. These regions are special areas defined by their unique plants and animals.
Is Eremophila rugosa Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Eremophila rugosa. They have decided that it is "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
Growing Eremophila rugosa in Gardens
This plant is very strong and easy to care for. It produces many pink, blue, or purple flowers. These flowers appear from late winter to spring. It needs very little looking after.
You can grow new plants from cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow roots. Eremophila rugosa can grow in many different types of soil. This includes alkaline soil, which is soil with a high pH. It can also grow in heavy clay soil.
The plant grows well in full sun or in partial shade. It can handle dry periods without much water, which means it is drought tolerant. It also recovers quickly if it gets damaged by very cold weather or severe frost.
