Eremophila scrobiculata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophila scrobiculata |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
scrobiculata
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| Synonyms | |
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Eremophila sp. 'Wanna' |
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Eremophila scrobiculata is a small, spreading shrub. It has long, thin leaves that attach directly to the stem. These are called sessile leaves. Its flowers are a pretty lilac color. This plant is special because it only grows in one place: Western Australia. You can find it on the sides of low, rocky hills at a place called Wanna Station.
What it Looks Like
Eremophila scrobiculata is a shrub that usually grows to about 30 to 50 centimeters (about 1 to 1.5 feet) tall. It can spread out to be 80 to 100 centimeters (about 2.5 to 3 feet) wide. Its branches are smooth and grey.
The leaves grow one after another along the stem, especially near the ends of the branches. They are long and thin, about 6 to 8 millimeters long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide. They are also smooth and attach directly to the stem without a stalk.
The Flowers
The flowers grow one by one where a leaf meets the stem. Each flower has a tiny stalk, called a pedicel, which is about 1 to 2 millimeters long.
Each flower has five green parts called sepals at its base. These sepals are shaped like triangles or spears. They are 3 to 6 millimeters long. The main part of the flower is a tube made of petals, which is lilac-colored and about 8 to 10 millimeters long. This petal tube does not have any spots. Inside the petal tube are four stamens, which are the parts that make pollen.
This plant mainly flowers from June to August. However, it can also bloom at other times if there has been rain.
How it Got its Name
Scientists Bevan Buirchell and Andrew Phillip Brown first officially described this plant in 2016. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. They found the plant on Wanna Station, which is north of Mount Augustus National Park.
The second part of the plant's scientific name, scrobiculata, comes from a Latin word. It means "furrowed" or "having small round dents all over the surface." This name refers to the way the plant's leaves look.
Where it Lives
Eremophila scrobiculata is only found in one known spot. This is the same place where it was first discovered. It grows on the slopes of small, rocky hills in a natural area called the Gascoyne biogeographic region in Western Australia.
Protecting the Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Eremophila scrobiculata as "Priority One". This means that the plant is known from only one or a few places. These locations could be at risk, so the plant needs special protection to survive.
