Resinous poverty bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Resinous poverty bush |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
vernicosa
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The Eremophila vernicosa, also known as the resinous poverty bush, 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 an upright shrub. Its leaves and branches look shiny, almost like they have been varnished. This is because they are covered in a thick, sticky substance called resin. The plant has small leaves and its flowers are usually white or a light purple color.
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What the Resinous Poverty Bush Looks Like
The resinous poverty bush is an upright shrub that can grow up to 2 m (7 ft) tall. Its branches are smooth and covered with a thick layer of resin. This resin makes the young branches look shiny and varnished. As they get older, the branches can turn white.
The leaves grow in a pattern where they overlap and are close together on the branches. They are thick, firm, and shaped like an egg or an oval. Each leaf is about 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. They are also sticky and shiny. You can see a clear line, like a small vein, on the underside of each leaf. Sometimes, the edges of the leaves have a few small teeth near their ends.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on sticky stalks that are about 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. Each flower has five overlapping parts called sepals. These sepals are green to purple, shiny, and shaped like an egg or a spoon. They are about 3.8–5 mm (0.15–0.20 in) long.
The petals of the flower are 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube shape. This tube is usually lilac or light purple. Both the inside and outside of the petal tube are covered with tiny hairs that lie flat against the surface. The very inside of the tube is full of long, soft hairs. There are four parts inside the flower called stamens, but they are completely hidden within the petal tube.
This plant mainly flowers between August and September. After the flowers, small fruits appear. These fruits are oblong or oval-shaped, about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long, and have a ribbed surface.
How it Got its Name
This plant was first officially described in 2007 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He wrote about it in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.
The second part of its scientific name, vernicosa, comes from a Latin word. Vernicosa means 'varnished'. This name was chosen because the plant's leaves and branches look shiny, as if they have been varnished.
Where it Grows
The resinous poverty bush is found in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows around the towns of Kalannie and Gunyidi. This area is part of the Avon Wheatbelt region. You can often find these plants growing on the sides of small, low hills that have a special type of rocky soil called lateritic soil.
Protecting This Plant
The Eremophila vernicosa is considered "vulnerable." This means it is at risk of disappearing in the future. It is listed as "vulnerable" under a special law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is also called "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).
This classification means the plant is either rare or needs special protection to help it survive. Efforts are being made to protect this unique plant and its habitat.
Growing the Resinous Poverty Bush
This small shrub is quite attractive for gardens. Its white stems and dark green leaves look nice against its small, delicate pink flowers.
You can grow new plants from cuttings. It grows well in many different types of soil, as long as it gets plenty of sun or a little bit of shade. This plant does not need much watering, even during long dry periods. It can also handle very cold temperatures and frost. You can trim it lightly to help it keep a nice shape.
