Showy poverty bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showy poverty bush |
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| Eremophila spectabilis subsp. brevis leaves and flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eremophila (plant)
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| Species: |
spectabilis
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The Showy Poverty Bush, also known as Eremophila spectabilis, is a beautiful 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 a thick, upright bush with thin, greyish leaves. Its flowers can be blue, mauve, or purple.
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About the Showy Poverty Bush
The Showy Poverty Bush is an upright, thick bush. It can grow to be about 0.3 and 1.0 m (1 and 3 ft) tall. Its leaves and branches are often very sticky. This stickiness comes from a natural substance called resin. The branches are covered in tiny hairs, but the resin often hides them.
The leaves grow one after another, but they are grouped together near the ends of the branches. They are long and thin, getting narrower towards the tip. Most leaves are about 32–84 mm (1–3 in) long and 1.5–4 mm (0.06–0.2 in) wide. They are also hairy and sticky.
How its Flowers Look
The flowers grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. They are on sticky stalks that can be straight or S-shaped. These stalks are about 5.5–42 mm (0.2–2 in) long, depending on the type of plant.
Each flower has 5 green to purple parts called sepals. These sepals overlap and are about 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The petals are joined together at their bottom to form a tube. This petal tube is about 35–45 mm (1–2 in) long and can be mauve, purple, or violet.
The outside of the petal tube and its tips are hairy and often sticky. But the inside of the tips is smooth, and the inside of the tube is hairy. There are 4 stamens, which are the parts that make pollen, hidden inside the petal tube.
When it Flowers and Fruits
The Showy Poverty Bush usually flowers from June to October. After the flowers, the plant grows fruits. These fruits are flat and oval-shaped, or sometimes almost round. They are about 9.5–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and have a hairy, paper-like covering.
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Naming the Showy Poverty Bush
The scientific name for this plant, Eremophila spectabilis, was first officially described by a botanist named Charles Gardner in 1942. He published his description in a scientific paper.
The second part of its scientific name, spectabilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "notable," "admirable," or "remarkable." This name fits well because the plant has such showy flowers!
Different Types of Showy Poverty Bush
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Showy Poverty Bush:
- Eremophila spectabilis subsp. spectabilis: This type has a flower stalk that is longer than 18 mm (0.7 in). It is usually shaped like an "S."
- Eremophila spectabilis subsp. brevis: This type has a straight flower stalk. It is shorter than 12 mm (0.5 in) long.
Where the Showy Poverty Bush Lives
Both types of Showy Poverty Bush grow in Western Australia. They prefer different kinds of soil.
Where Subspecies spectabilis Grows
The spectabilis subspecies grows in sandy or clay soils. You can find it near Meekatharra. This area is part of the Gascoyne and Murchison biogeographic regions. These regions are special areas defined by their plants and animals.
Where Subspecies brevis Grows
The brevis subspecies is common in sandy or loam soils. It grows between Meekatharra and Leinster. This type also lives in the Gascoyne and Murchison biogeographic regions.
Protecting the Showy Poverty Bush
Good news! Both types of the Showy Poverty Bush are considered "not threatened." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of their status.
Growing Showy Poverty Bush at Home
The Showy Poverty Bush truly lives up to its name! It is a very pretty bush with bright, eye-catching flowers. People who love gardening often want to grow it.
It can be a bit tricky to grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant). However, it's easier to grow new plants by grafting. This is a method where a piece of the Showy Poverty Bush is joined onto the rootstock (root system) of another plant, like a Myoporum.
This plant likes soil that drains water well. It also needs a lot of sunshine or a mix of sun and shade. You only need to water it sometimes, especially during long dry periods. It's important to protect it from frost. If some stems get damaged, you can gently prune them to help the plant stay healthy.
