Slender fuchsia bush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Slender fuchsia
Eremophila decipiens in Geelong Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eremophila (plant)
Species:	decipiens

The Eremophila decipiens, also known as the slender fuchsia bush or narrow-leaved fuchsia bush, is a type of flowering plant. Even though it's called "fuchsia bush," it's not actually related to the well-known Fuchsia plant. This plant belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae.

You can find this plant growing naturally in a specific area. It lives in the south-west part of Western Australia and also in the southern areas of South Australia. It's a low, spreading shrub with long, thin leaves that look like spear tips. Its flowers can be red, orange, or yellow and grow on a long, S-shaped stem.

What Does the Slender Fuchsia Bush Look Like?

The Eremophila decipiens is a low, spreading shrub. It has many branches that can get tangled together. This plant usually grows to be about 0.3 to 1.0 meter (1 to 3 feet) tall.

The ends of its branches and its leaves feel sticky and look shiny. This is because they have a natural sticky substance called resin on them. The leaves grow one after another along the stems. Sometimes they are grouped closely together, and sometimes they are more spread out.

The leaves are smooth, meaning they have no hairs. They are long and thin, shaped like a spear or a narrow blade. Some leaves might have a few uneven teeth along their edges. Most leaves are about 15 to 46 millimeters (0.6 to 1.8 inches) long and 1.5 to 9 millimeters (0.06 to 0.35 inches) wide.

Flowers and Fruit of the Slender Fuchsia Bush

The flowers of this plant grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower has an S-shaped stalk that is about 11 to 22 millimeters (0.4 to 0.9 inches) long. This stalk is at least twice as long as the longest sepal, which are small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud.

There are five sepals that are shaped like an egg or a triangle. They are slightly hairy and sticky. The petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower, are 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. They are joined together at the bottom to form a tube shape.

The petal tube can be red, orange, or sometimes yellow. It doesn't have any spots. The outside of the petal tube and its lobes (the top parts) are usually smooth and often sticky. But the inside of the tube is covered with short hairs. The four stamens, which are the parts that hold pollen, stick out beyond the end of the tube.

This plant blooms for a long time, from February to December. However, in the Esperance area, it mostly flowers between July and November. After flowering, the plant produces dry fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cylinder or are almost round. They are smooth and have a papery covering. Each fruit is about 4 to 7.5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.3 inches) long.

How to Tell it Apart from Other Plants

Sometimes, people might confuse Eremophila decipiens with another plant called Eremophila glabra. However, there's an easy way to tell them apart. The Eremophila glabra does not have the long, S-shaped flower stalk that Eremophila decipiens has.

How the Slender Fuchsia Bush Got Its Name

This plant was first officially described in 1921 by a scientist named Carl Hansen Ostenfeld. He wrote about it in a scientific publication.

The second part of its scientific name, decipiens, comes from a Latin word. It means 'deceiving' or 'false'. This name was chosen because the plant looks a lot like another species called E. maculata.

Different Types of Slender Fuchsia Bush

Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of Eremophila decipiens:

• Eremophila decipiens subsp. decipiens: This type has leaves that are wider than 2 millimeters (0.08 inches). Its petals are smooth on the outside.
• Eremophila decipiens subsp. linearifolia: This type has leaves that are narrower than 2 millimeters (0.08 inches). Its petals have tiny sticky hairs, called glandular hairs, on the outside.

The subspecies linearifolia was first described in 1920. It is much less common than the decipiens subspecies. The name linearifolia also comes from Latin. It means 'long narrow leaved', which describes its thin leaves.

Where the Slender Fuchsia Bush Lives

The Eremophila decipiens subsp. decipiens is found across the entire south-west plant region of Australia. It also stretches north to a place called Wiluna. You can find it going east across the Nullarbor Plain all the way to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

The other type, subspecies linearifolia, lives in a smaller area. It's found in the eastern wheatbelt and goldfields regions. Both types of these plants like to grow in different kinds of soil. They are often found in Eucalyptus woodlands, which are forests with eucalyptus trees.

How the Slender Fuchsia Bush is Pollinated

Most types of Eremophila plants rely on insects to help them spread their pollen. However, E. decipiens is special. It is one of about 40 Eremophila species that are pollinated by birds. This means birds help carry pollen from one flower to another.

Is the Slender Fuchsia Bush Protected?

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Eremophila decipiens. They have officially said that it is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.

Growing Slender Fuchsia Bush in Your Garden

The slender fuchsia bush is a tough and easy-to-grow plant for gardens. It can grow well in most types of soil. It likes to be in full sun or in a spot with some shade. This plant is also very strong and can handle harsh dry conditions or very cold frosts.

It's quite hard to grow this plant from seeds. However, if you take cuttings (small pieces of the plant), they will grow roots easily, especially if you don't use mist. This plant can live for a very long time in a garden. Some plants have been growing for more than 30 years! Older plants also respond well if you prune them, even if you cut them back a lot.

Images for kids

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  E. decipiens decipiens growing near Salmon Gums

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  E. decipiens decipiens leaves and flowers, near Hyden