Small-flowered poverty bush facts for kids

The Eremophila micrantha, also known as the small-flowered poverty bush, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the figwort family, called Scrophulariaceae. This plant is special because it only grows in Western Australia. It's a round-shaped bush with many thin, bendy branches, narrow leaves, and tiny white flowers.

What the Plant Looks Like

The Eremophila micrantha is an upright bush that usually grows about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall. It has a rounded top and many thin, flexible branches. These branches are covered with tiny glands, which make them a bit sticky.

When the branches are young, they are yellowish. As they get older, they turn a reddish-brown color. The leaves grow one after another along the branches. They are long and thin, usually about 18 to 25 millimeters (about 1 inch) long and 1 millimeter (less than an inch) wide. The leaves have a rough surface and are yellowish-green. They also have small bumps and feel sticky because of a natural resin.

What the Flowers Look Like

The flowers usually grow alone or in small groups of up to three. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each flower sits on a rough, sticky stalk that is about 2 to 3.5 millimeters long.

The flower has five yellowish-green, sticky parts called sepals, which are shaped like a spear. These are about 1.6 to 3 millimeters long. The petals are about 5 to 6.5 millimeters long and are joined together at the bottom to form a tube.

When the flowers are still buds, they look pinkish. But when they open, they are white. The lower middle petal has red spots, and the inside of the tube has yellow spots. The outside of the flower tube is very hairy, but the inside is smooth. There are four stamens (the parts that make pollen) hidden inside the petal tube.

This plant flowers from September to October. After the flowers, small, oval-shaped fruits grow. They have a pointed end and are about 2.5 to 4 millimeters long. These fruits are covered with stiff, long hairs.

Where it Got its Name

The Eremophila micrantha was first officially described by a scientist named Robert Chinnock in 2007. He wrote about it in a book called Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.

The second part of its scientific name, micrantha, comes from two old Greek words. Mikrós means "small" or "little", and ánthos means "flower". So, the name micrantha means "small-flowered", which makes sense because its flowers are quite tiny!

Where it Grows

You can find Eremophila micrantha growing in Western Australia. It lives in the areas between the towns of Meekatharra and Newman.

It likes to grow in shallow, rocky soil and near the edges of salt pans (flat areas where salt collects). You often see it in mulga shrubland, which is a type of bushland with many mulga trees.

Is it Endangered?

The good news is that the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife says this plant is "not threatened". This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.

Growing This Plant

If you look at older Eremophila micrantha plants, you might notice their very dark trunks. These dark trunks look great with the plant's dark green leaves and tiny white flowers. The small, white, hairy fruits that stay on the plant are also a nice feature.

You can grow this plant from seeds. It can also be grown by grafting, though this can be a bit tricky. It grows best in a sunny spot with soil that drains water well. It doesn't need a lot of watering, just a drink now and then during long, dry summers. It's also very good at handling frosts.