Wavy-leaved eremophila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wavy-leaved eremophila |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
undulata
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The Eremophila undulata, also known as the wavy-leaved eremophila, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is found only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there.
It's a small bush with flowers that are greenish-brown. Its leaves are special because they have a wavy edge, just like waves in the ocean!
Contents
What Does Wavy-Leaved Eremophila Look Like?
The wavy-leaved eremophila is a small bush. It usually grows to be about 20 to 50 centimeters (8 to 20 inches) tall. Its branches are covered with long, white, fuzzy hairs.
Leaves
The leaves grow one after another along the branches. They have small stalks, about 5 to 11 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. These stalks are also covered in the same fuzzy hairs as the branches.
The leaves themselves are shaped like a long oval or ellipse. They are usually 22 to 30 millimeters (0.9 to 1.2 inches) long and 6 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. They are also covered with branched hairs. The most interesting part is their wavy edges, which gives the plant its name!
Flowers
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on hairy, S-shaped stalks that are 12 to 17 millimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long.
Each flower has five green, overlapping parts called sepals. These sepals are about 6.5 to 8.5 millimeters (0.26 to 0.33 inches) long. They are mostly hairy on the outside.
The petals are 15 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube shape. This petal tube is usually greenish-brown or yellowish-green. It has tiny glandular hairs both inside and outside.
There are four stamens, which are the parts of the flower that make pollen. These stamens stick out beyond the end of the petal tube.
Fruits
This plant flowers from June to July. After flowering, it produces fruits. These fruits are dry and almost round. They are about 6 to 7.5 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They have a smooth, papery covering.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The wavy-leaved eremophila was officially described for the first time in 1980. This was done by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published his description in a scientific journal.
The first plant specimen used to describe the species was found in 1974. It was discovered by Alex George about 88 kilometers (55 miles) south of Neale Junction. This area is in the Great Victoria Desert.
The second part of its scientific name, undulata, comes from a Latin word. It means "wavy," which perfectly describes the wavy edges of its leaves!
Where Does This Plant Grow?
This special eremophila plant is only found in a few small areas. These areas are north of Rawlinna in the Great Victoria Desert. This is the same region where the first plant was found.
Even though it's only in a few spots, it's quite common in those specific places. It likes to grow in brown sandy soil. You can often find it growing near mallee trees and hummock grasses.
Protecting the Wavy-Leaved Eremophila
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like this. They have classified Eremophila undulata as "Priority Two".
This means that we don't know much about this plant yet. It's only found in one or a few locations. Because of this, it's important to protect these areas to make sure the plant can continue to grow and thrive.
Growing Wavy-Leaved Eremophila
Even though its flowers are greenish, many people like to grow this eremophila. It produces a lot of flowers, and they are very attractive to birds that feed on nectar. The wavy leaves also make it a very pretty plant.
You can grow this plant from seeds or from cuttings. You can also grow it by grafting it onto another plant called Myoporum. Grafting is when you join parts of two plants so they grow as one.
This bush grows best in soil that drains water well. It also needs a sunny spot to grow. It doesn't need a lot of water, just a little bit if there's a long dry period. It can handle most cold weather, but very severe frosts might damage it.
