Eremophila calcicola
| Eremophila calcicola | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. calcicola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila calcicola | |
Eremophila calcicola is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, short-lived shrub with broad leaves, and pale, greenish-yellow flowers over a long period.
Description
[edit]Eremophila calcicola is an spreading shrub growing to 0.8 m (3 ft) high and 2 m (7 ft) wide. The leaves are arranged alternately, mostly 20–80 mm (0.8–3 in) long, 3–15 mm (0.1–0.6 in) wide, elliptic to lance-shaped with a few white hairs. Unlike in some other eremophilas, the leaves are not clustered on the ends of the branches.[3][4]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on an S-shaped stalk 14–17 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long. There are 5 overlapping, narrow triangular sepals which are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and green with a few hairs. The petals are 14–19 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, pale yellowish-green and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tips of the petals are different sizes and are curved backwards. The inside and outside of the petal tube have a few scattered glandular hairs. The 4 stamens are much longer than the petal tube and are paired. Flowering time is from May to October.[3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]Eremophila calcicola was first formally described by Robert Davis in 2016 and the description was published in Nuytsia.[5][3] It was formerly known as Eremophila sp. Parmango Road. The specific epithet (calcicola) is derived from the Latin calx meaning "lime"[6]: 484 and -cola meaning "dweller"[6]: 217 referring to the soil type in which this species grows.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This eremophila is found south of Balladonia in the Mallee biogeographic region where it grows in sandy, calcareous soil in open woodland. It appears in large numbers after bushfire, quickly reaches maturity, produces large number of flowers then dying of old age after a few years.[3]
Conservation status
[edit]Eremophila calcicola is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[1] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Eremophila calcicola". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Eremophila calcicola". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Andrew P.; Davis, Robert W. (2016). "Eremophila buirchellii and E. calcicola (Scrophulariaceae), two new species from Western Australia". Nuytsia. 27: 213–216.
- ^ a b Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 312. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ "Eremophila calcicola". APNI. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 28 July 2016.