Eremophila (plant)
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Eremophila is a genus of plants of the family Myoporaceae, with species known by the common names of Emu Bush, Poverty Bush or Fuchsia Bush. Currently, there are 215 recognised species, all of which are endemic to arid regions of Australia. One species, Eremophila debilis which occurs in New Zealand, is thought to be naturalised.[1]
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[edit] Description
The size and habit of Eremophilas varies greatly, but they can be readily identified from their flowers which have corollas with two upper lobes and three lower lobes. As the flower ages, the corolla falls off and the calyx enlarges and becomes coloured as the fruit enlarges. [2]
[edit] Species
Species include:
- Eremophila abietina, or Spotted Poverty Bush
- Eremophila alternifolia, or Poverty Bush
- Eremophila bignoniiflora, or Bignonia Emu Bush
- Eremophila bowmanii, or Silver Turkeybush
- Eremophila brevifolia, or Spotted Eremophila
- Eremophila debilis, or Winter Apple
- Eremophila clarkei, or Turpentine Bush
- Eremophila cuneifolia, or Pinyuru
- Eremophila debilis, Winter Apple or Amulla
- Eremophila decipiens, or Slender Fuchsia
- Eremophila delisseri, or Frontage Poverty Bush
- Eremophila deserti
- Eremophila dichroantha, or Bale-hook Eremophila
- Eremophila denticulata, or Toothed Poverty Bush
- Eremophila divaricata, or Spreading Emu Bush
- Eremophila eriocalyx, or Desert Pride
- Eremophila fraseri, or Burra
- Eremophila freelingii, Limestone Fuchsia or Rock Fuchsia Bush
- Eremophila glabra or Tar Bush (many forms in cultivation)
- Eremophila hygrophana
- Eremophila laanii
- Eremophila latrobei, or Crimson Turkey Bush
- Eremophila longifolia, or Berrigan
- Eremophila macdonnellii, or MacDonnell's Desert Fuchsia
- Eremophila maculata, or Spotted Emu Bush (most commonly cultivated species)
- Eremophila maitlandii, or Shark Bay Poverty Bush
- Eremophila miniata, or Kopi Poverty Bush
- Eremophila mitchellii, or False Sandalwood
- Eremophila nivea, or Silky Eremophila
- Eremophila oldfieldii, or Pixie Bush
- Eremophila oppositifolia, or Weeooka
- Eremophila psilocalyx
- Eremophila racemosa
- Eremophila scoparia, or Silver Emu Bush
- Eremophila subteretifolia, groundcover species.
- Eremophila youngii [3]
[edit] Taxonomy
The genus was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.[3] Eremophila is derived from the Greek words eremos (desert) and phileo (love) alluding to the species adaptation to arid environments.
[edit] Ecology
There are two groupings of Eremophilas, those with flowers designed to attract insects and those designed to attract birds. Flowers of the former kind tend to be bluish-purple colours or white.The lower lips of the flower project forward to provide a landing area for the insects. The bird-attracting type have red, orange, yellow or green flowers with lower lobes that point downwards to discourage insect nectar feeders. The longer stamens brush nectar onto the birds head as the bird's beak reaches down the floral tube toward the nectar.[2]
Large amounts of the fruits are eaten by emus, passing through their gut. By this method the seeds are dispersed and provided with fertiliser at the same time.[2]
[edit] Distribution
They occur across Australia in arid regions, with the majority of species occurring in Western Australia.
[edit] References
- ^ Chinnock, R.J. (2007). Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family. Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN 1877058165.
- ^ a b c Moore P. (2005). Plants of Inland Australia. Reed New Holland. ISBN 187633486X.
- ^ a b Eremophila R.Br.. Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
[edit] External links
Media related to Eremophila from the Wikimedia Commons.- Eremophila. FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
- Eremophila. Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia.
