Eremophila verrucosa facts for kids

Eremophila verrucosa is a cool flowering plant that belongs to the figwort family. This plant is special because it only grows in South Australia. It's a tall, broom-shaped bush. Its leaves and branches are covered with yellow-grey scales. You can spot it by its pretty lilac to purple flowers.

What Does Eremophila verrucosa Look Like?

Eremophila verrucosa is a bush that stands upright, like a broom. It usually grows about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) tall. Its branches, leaves, and flower stems are covered in tiny yellow-grey or grey scales.

Branches and Leaves

The branches of this plant are orange-brown. They have many small, bumpy spots that aren't covered by the scales. The leaves grow in pairs, one across from the other. They are mostly found near the ends of the branches. Each leaf is long and narrow, about 5 to 16 mm (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also about 1.4 to 2.2 mm (0.06 to 0.09 inches) wide. Sometimes, the leaves have a slight S-shape and a hooked tip.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers grow either alone or in pairs where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on short, hairy stalks. Each flower has five grey-green, hairy parts called sepals. These sepals are shaped like an egg and are about 2.5 to 5.5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.

The petals of the flower are 16 to 26 mm (0.6 to 1.0 inches) long. They join together at the bottom to form a tube. This tube is usually purple or lilac, but sometimes it can be white. Inside the tube, you'll see dark purple spots. The outside of the flower tube and its petal tips are covered with tiny branched hairs. However, the inside of the petal tips is smooth. The tube itself is full of long, web-like hairs. There are four stamens (the parts that make pollen) hidden inside the petal tube.

After the flowers bloom, the plant makes fruits. These fruits are dry and woody. They are oval or cone-shaped, about 4 to 5.5 mm (0.16 to 0.22 inches) long, and have a hairy covering.

Plant Name and Types

This plant was first officially described in 1979 by a scientist named Robert Chinnock. He published its description in a special garden journal. The second part of its name, verrucosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "full of warts," which refers to the bumpy spots on its branches.

There are two slightly different types, or subspecies, of Eremophila verrucosa:

• Eremophila verrucosa subsp. verrucosa: This type has hairs on the outside of its petal tube that are branched and tangled together.
• Eremophila verrucosa subsp. brevistellata: This type has hairs on the outside of its petal tube with short branches that are not tangled.

Where Eremophila verrucosa Grows

The first type, subspecies verrucosa, is found in many places in the North-Western and Lake Eyre areas of South Australia. It likes to grow in rocky spots or on flat, stony plains. The second type, subspecies brevistellata, grows in sand dunes near a place called Ooldea.

Growing Eremophila verrucosa in Gardens

Eremophila verrucosa is not a very common garden plant, but it's quite attractive. Its grey leaves look nice next to its bright lilac or purple flowers.

Gardeners can grow this plant by joining it onto another plant's root system. This is called grafting. It grows best in soil that drains water well and in a sunny spot. The plant can handle some frost, but very cold temperatures can harm its new growing tips.