Rough emu bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rough emu bush |
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Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
scaberula
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The Rough Emu Bush, also known as Eremophila scaberula, is a special flowering plant found only in Western Australia. It belongs to the figwort family. This plant is a small, low-growing shrub with many leaves. It produces beautiful pale to dark purple flowers. You can mostly see these flowers between July and October.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Rough Emu Bush is a small shrub. It usually grows between 15 and 75 centimeters (6 to 30 inches) tall. Its branches have clear ridges and feel a bit sticky. This stickiness comes from a natural substance called resin.
The leaves grow in groups of 3 or 4 around the branches. They are long and thin, about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long. Each leaf is about 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide. They feel rough when you touch them and are also a little sticky.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They are on short, smooth, sticky stalks. These stalks are about 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters (0.02 to 0.1 inches) long. Each flower has 5 pointed, smooth, sticky sepals. Sepals are like small leaves that protect the flower bud. They are about 3 to 4.2 millimeters (0.12 to 0.17 inches) long.
The petals are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. The whole petal part is 6 to 10 millimeters (0.24 to 0.39 inches) long. The petals are dark lilac to purple in color. Inside the tube, you might see white areas with brown or purple spots. The outside and most of the inside of the flower are smooth. However, the middle part of the lower petal and the inside of the tube are hairy. There are 4 stamens (the parts that make pollen) hidden inside the petal tube.
The Rough Emu Bush flowers from July to October. After flowering, it produces small, dry, woody fruits. These fruits are cone-shaped and about 3 to 4.5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.18 inches) long. They have a smooth, papery covering.
How It Got Its Name
The Rough Emu Bush was first officially described in 1905. A person named William Vincent Fitzgerald wrote about it. The plant's scientific name is Eremophila scaberula. The second part, scaberula, is a Latin word. It means "slightly rough." This name fits the plant because its leaves feel rough to the touch.
Where Does It Live?
The Rough Emu Bush grows in only a few areas in Western Australia. These areas are small patches of natural bushland near a town called Moora. It likes to grow in clay or loam soil. You can find it in woodland areas. These woodlands are part of the Avon Wheatbelt and Jarrah Forest regions.
Why Is It Special? (Conservation)
The Rough Emu Bush is a very rare plant. The Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia calls it "Threatened Flora." This means it's a rare plant that needs protection.
The Australian Government also lists it as "Critically Endangered." This is the highest level of risk for a species. It means the plant is in great danger of disappearing forever. Because it's so rare, a special plan has been made to help it recover.
In 1999, scientists estimated there were only about 455 Rough Emu Bush plants left in the wild. These plants were found in just three places south of Moora. Many things threaten these plants. Other plants (weeds) can compete with them for space and water. Fires can also harm them. Their natural homes are also being damaged. Sometimes, maintenance work can disturb them. On the other hand, sometimes not enough disturbance (like small, controlled fires) can also be a problem.
Growing Rough Emu Bush
This small emu bush is a great plant for gardens. Its small, dark green leaves look nice against its usually blue flowers. You can plant it under taller plants to fill empty spaces.
You can grow new plants from cuttings. A cutting is a piece of the plant that can grow roots. You can also grow it by grafting. This means joining a piece of the Rough Emu Bush onto the roots of another plant, like a Myoporum.
The Rough Emu Bush grows best in soil that drains water well. It likes full sun or a little bit of shade. It can handle dry weather, so it only needs water occasionally during long dry periods. It can also survive very cold frosts.
