Paroo poverty bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paroo poverty bush |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
anomala
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Eremophila anomala, also called the Paroo poverty bush, is a special plant. It belongs to the figwort family. This plant only grows in two small areas in central Western Australia. You can find it growing with other Eremophila plants. They like to grow in clay soil on basalt rocks near a place called Paroo.
What Does It Look Like?
Eremophila anomala is a short, bushy plant. It usually grows to about 0.4 m (1 ft) tall. Its branches are thin and can look a bit tangled. These branches have tiny bumps of sticky resin and some hairs.
The leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are often grouped together at the ends of the branches. Each leaf is about 8–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 1–5 mm (0.04–0.2 in) wide. They are shaped like an oval or an egg. Most of the leaves are smooth, meaning they don't have hairs. However, they might have some hairs near their base and along their edges.
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They sit on small stalks that are 3–6.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. Each flower has five green sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are usually 14–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long. They are covered with many tiny hairs and sticky glands.
There are five petals that are joined together at their bottom to form a tube. These petals are 18–26 mm (0.7–1 in) long. They are cream-coloured, and you might see faint purple spots inside the tube. The inside of the tube is hairy, and the outside is covered with sticky hairs. There are four stamens inside the flower, which are shorter than the petal tube.
This plant flowers between May and September. After the flowers, it produces a dry, woody, oval-shaped fruit. The fruit is about 6–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.
How It Got Its Name
This plant was first officially described by a scientist named Robert Chinnock in 2007. He published its description in a book about Eremophila plants. The first plant specimen used to describe the species, called the type specimen, was collected by Chinnock. He found it about 14 kilometres (9 mi) north of Paroo station.
The second part of its scientific name, anomala, comes from a Latin word. It means "unusual" or "abnormal". This name was chosen because this plant doesn't have the white, woolly hairs that are common on other plants in its group.
Where Does It Grow?
Eremophila anomala is quite rare. It is only found in two small areas. Both of these areas are north of Paroo station in the Murchison region of Western Australia.
It grows in mulga woodlands. These are forests where mulga trees are common. The plant prefers to grow in clay soil on basalt rock outcrops. It often grows alongside other types of Eremophila plants.
Is It Endangered?
The Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of rare plants. They have classified Eremophila anomala as "Priority One".
This means that the plant is known from only one or a few places. Because of this, it could be at risk of disappearing. Protecting these small areas is very important for the plant's survival.
