Granite poverty bush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Granite poverty bush
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	granitica

The Granite Poverty Bush (scientific name: Eremophila granitica) is a flowering plant found only in Western Australia. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is an upright, open shrub with sticky, narrow leaves and pretty lilac-colored flowers. It's also known as the thin-leaved poverty bush.

What it Looks Like

The Granite Poverty Bush is an upright shrub that can grow from about 0.5 to 2.5 meters (1.6 to 8.2 feet) tall. It has sticky, wrinkled, and shiny branches. Its leaves grow one after another along the stems. They are usually 16 to 38 millimeters (0.6 to 1.5 inches) long and 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide. The leaves are thin and sometimes have tiny teeth along their edges. They are also shiny and sticky, with small, raised bumps called glands on their surface.

The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has a flat, S-shaped stalk that is 10 to 35 millimeters (0.4 to 1.4 inches) long. There are five sticky, shiny green to purple leaf-like parts called sepals around the base of the flower. These sepals are 10 to 15.5 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long and can get bigger after the flower blooms.

The flower's petals are 20 to 35 millimeters (0.8 to 1.4 inches) long and are joined together at the bottom to form a tube. The outside of this tube is lilac or pinkish-lilac, while the inside is white with orange-brown spots. The outside of the tube and the petal tips are hairy. However, the inside of the petal tips is smooth, and the inside of the tube is woolly. The middle part of the lowest petal closes the opening of the tube. Inside the petal tube are four stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen.

This plant usually flowers from March to November. After flowering, it produces dry, woody, oval-shaped fruits with a pointed end. These fruits are hairy and about 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) long.

Plant Name and History

The Granite Poverty Bush was first officially described in 1899 by a scientist named Spencer Le Marchant Moore. He published his description in a scientific journal called Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany.

The plant's specific name, granitica, comes from a Latin word meaning "granitic" or "living on granite soil." This name tells us that the plant often grows in areas with granite rocks.

Where it Grows

Eremophila granitica is found across a large area in Western Australia. It is common between the towns of Kalgoorlie and Murchison. You can find it in several different natural regions, including the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Murchison, and Yalgoo areas.

This plant likes to grow in sand or clay soils. It can also be found on granite rocks, ironstone hills, and flat areas.

Ecology and Pollination

The Granite Poverty Bush plays an important role in its ecosystem. A type of native bee, called Leioproctus lanceolatus, has been seen visiting and helping to pollinate E. granitica flowers. This means the bee helps the plant reproduce by carrying pollen from one flower to another.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Granite Poverty Bush. They have officially classified it as "not threatened." This means the plant is common and not currently at risk of disappearing.

Growing it in Gardens

Some types of Granite Poverty Bush are almost always in bloom, making them popular in gardens. Some plants have been grown in gardens for over 30 years! It is a tough shrub that doesn't need much care.

You can grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) or by grafting (joining parts of two plants together). If you grow it from its own roots, it prefers light to medium soils. This plant can grow well in full sun or partial shade. It can handle both dry conditions (drought tolerant) and cold temperatures (frost tolerant). If you prune it, even harshly, it will grow back well as long as it gets enough water.