Red rod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red rod |
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| Eremophila calorhabdos growing near Salmon Gums | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
calorhabdos
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The Eremophila calorhabdos, often called red rod or spiked eremophila, is a special flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is only found in the south-west part of Western Australia.
It's a unique shrub that can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. It has straight, rod-like branches. Its leaves have tiny teeth along their edges. The flowers are very interesting because they change color! They start out orange and then turn a bright lipstick pink as they open.
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What Does the Red Rod Look Like?
The red rod is a very unusual shrub. It often grows as a single tall branch, or sometimes a few branches, reaching up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) high. Its branches are covered in thick white hairs. This makes a nice contrast with the green leaves, which have fewer hairs.
Leaves of the Red Rod
The leaves of the red rod are packed closely together and overlap each other. They are arranged in a spiral pattern around the stem. Most leaves are about 13 to 24 millimeters (about half an inch to one inch) long. They are also about 5 to 12 millimeters (about a quarter to half an inch) wide. Their shape can be oval or egg-shaped, and they have small, fine teeth along their edges.
Red Rod Flowers and Fruit
The beautiful flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a short stalk, only 2 to 3 millimeters long. There are five green, triangle-shaped parts called sepals at the base of the flower. These are about 2 to 4 millimeters long.
The petals of the flower are 20 to 25 millimeters (about one inch) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube shape. When the flower buds are closed, they look orange. But as they open, the tube turns a bright pink, red, or even purplish color. The tips of the petals are pointed, and the lowest petal curves backward. Four stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, stick out beyond the petal tube.
Red rod plants usually flower from August to May. However, you will see the most flowers from October to December. After the flowers bloom, they turn into dry, oval-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 6.5 to 7.5 millimeters (about a quarter of an inch) long.
Where Does the Red Rod Grow?
The Eremophila calorhabdos plant is found in specific areas of Western Australia. You can see it north of Esperance. It grows in places between Grass Patch, Balladonia, and Lake King. These areas are part of the Esperance Plains, Coolgardie, and Mallee biogeographic regions.
This plant is common in areas that have been affected by fire. It often grows in small groups. You can find it in sandy, clay, or loamy soils on gently rolling plains. It also likes areas that get wet during the winter months.
Is the Red Rod Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the red rod. They have officially said that Eremophila calorhabdos is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
Growing Red Rod in Your Garden
The red rod is a lovely plant that grows quickly. It makes a great feature in a garden. People have successfully grown and flowered it in many different parts of Australia. It's quite easy to start new plants from cuttings. However, a type of red rod with grey leaves can be a bit harder to grow this way.
This plant grows well in many types of soil. It likes full sun or light shade. It can also handle dry conditions (drought tolerant) and cold temperatures (frost tolerant). But it's important that the soil is not too wet when it's frosty. You can prune the red rod to make a hedge, but be careful not to cut below where the leaves are growing.
