Eremophila humilis
| Eremophila humilis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. humilis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila humilis | |
Eremophila humilis is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a low, rounded shrub with club-shaped leaves and white bell-shaped flowers and which is only found in a restricted area near Meekatharra.
Description
[edit]Eremophila humilis is a rounded, densely-branched, dark green shrub which grows to a height of between 0.25 and 0.5 m (0.8 and 2 ft) with branches and leaves that are sticky and shiny when young. The leaves are crowded near the ends of the branches and are mostly 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide, linear to club-shaped and lumpy due to enlarged resin glands.[2][3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a mostly hairy stalk 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. There are 5 green to purple, elliptic to egg-shaped, pointed sepals which are 6–9.5 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The petals are white, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a bell-shaped tube. The outside of the tube and petal lobes are slightly hairy but the inside is glabrous. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs from June to September and is followed by fruits which are dry, woody, oval-shaped and 4–4.5 mm (0.16–0.18 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]The species was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 2007 and the description was published in Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae.[4] The specific epithet (humilis) is a Latin word meaning "low" or "small" (usually in stature) referring to the habit of this species.[2][5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Eremophila humilis grows in clay loam on stony hills near Mount Vernon, north west of Meekatharra[2][3] in the Gascoyne biogeographic region.[6][7]
Conservation status
[edit]Eremophila humilis is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[6] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[6][8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Eremophila humilis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 546–547. ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ a b c Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 148. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ "Eremophila humilis". APNI. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 220. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b c "Eremophila humilis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 337. ISBN 0646402439.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 3 February 2016.