Eremophila gilesii, commonly known Charleville turkey bush, green turkey bush, desert fuchsia and Giles emu bush[2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is usually a low, spreading shrub with pinkish-lilac to purple flowers and is widespread in the Northern Territory and all mainland states except Victoria. It is considered a difficult agricultural weed in some parts of Queensland but is often used as a bush medicine by Aboriginal people.
| Charleville turkey bush | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
| Eremophila gilesii gilesii leaves and flowers | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. gilesii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila gilesii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editEremophila gilesii is usually a low spreading shrub but sometimes prostrate and sometimes an erect shrub. It usually grows to a height of between 0.15 and 0.8 m (0.5 and 3 ft) and has branches and leaves which are sticky due to the presence of resin. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems and are 12–91 mm (0.5–4 in) long, 0.5–5.6 mm (0.02–0.2 in) wide, linear to lance-shaped, and covered with glandular hairs. The margins of the leaves are sometimes serrated or have fine teeth.[2][3][4][5]
The flowers are usually borne singly in leaf axils on an S-shaped, sticky, flattened stalk 6.5–32 mm (0.3–1 in) long. There are 5 linear to lance-shaped, tapering green sepals which are 5.5–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and covered with mostly glandular hairs. The petals are 16.5–40 mm (0.6–2 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is white to lilac-coloured on the outside and white, spotted purple on the inside. The outside of the tube and petal lobes are hairy but the inside of the lobes is glabrous and the inside of the tube is woolly. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from March to November and is followed by fruit which are dry, woody, oval-shaped, hairy and 6.5–12.5 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long.[2][3][4][5]
.jpg)
Taxonomy and naming
editThe species was first formally described in 1873 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[6][7] The specific epithet (gilesii) honours Ernest Giles who collected the type specimen.[2]
There are two subspecies:
- Eremophila gilesii F.Muell. subsp. gilesii[8] which has distinctly flattened flower stalks and linear leaves and is the more widespread subspecies;[2]
- Eremophila gilesii subsp. variabilis Chinnock [9] which has flower stalks that are only slightly flattened in the lower part, elliptic to lance-shaped leaves and is only found in Western Australia.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editIn New South Wales, Eremophila gilesii subsp. gilesii occurs in the Wanaaring and Enngonia districts in the north west of the state. It is widespread in the western half of South Australia, the southern half of the Northern Territory and in a central band across Western Australia. It grows in sand or loam soils on plains and low hills.[3][10][11] Subspecies variabilis only occurs in Western Australia in the Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert and Murchison biogeographic regions where it grows in sand, clay or laterite on plains or in rocky areas.[11][12]
Ecology
editBecause Eremophila gilesii rapidly regenerates after clearing of mulga, it is regarded as an agricultural weed in places such as south-west Queensland.[13] It is a prolific producer of seeds and can easily form dense stands of up to 12,000 shrubs per hectare (5,000 per acre),[14] restricting the growth of pasture.[15] Biological control with the grasshoppers Monistria discrepans and M. pustulifera has been trialled[16] as has management such as heavy stocking after rainfall exceeding 40 mm (2 in) in areas where this plant is a problem.[17] More recent studies have shown that mechanical treatments such as ploughing and heavy stocking may not reduce the number of plants, but instead reduce their size, making stock movement easier.[14]
Conservation status
editBoth subspecies of Eremophila gilesii are classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[18]
Uses
editIndigenous use
editAboriginal people use this eremophila in several ways including as a decoction and infusion to treat ailments such as headache, chest pains, sores and colds.[19]
Horticulture
editThis eremophila is suitable for most gardens but the Queensland form has larger grey leaves and flowers over a longer period than others. All have large, blue to purple, well-displayed flowers. It can be grown from cuttings or by grafting, the latter method being preferred if the plant is to be grown in heavier soils. Mature plants are drought and frost tolerant but respond to watering during long dry spells and to light pruning to manage its shape.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Eremophila gilesii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 317–320. 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. pp. 115–116. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ a b "Eremophila gilesii". State Herbarium of South Australia:eflora. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ a b Chinnock, Robert J. "Eremophila gilesii". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii". APNI. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1873). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 8. Melbourne. p. 49. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Eremophila gilesii subsp. gilesii". APNI. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii subsp. variabilis". APNI. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii subsp. gilesii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 336. ISBN 0646402439.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii subsp. variabilis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii". Australian Native Plant Society Australia. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ a b Daryanto, Stefani; Eldridge, David J. (December 2010). "Plant and soil surface responses to a combination of shrub removal and grazing in a shrub-encroached woodland" (PDF). Journal of Environmental Management. 91 (12): 2639–2648. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.07.038. PMID 20696514. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Kit 7, Part1, Flora of South-West Queensland". Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ Allstopp, P.G. (1976). "Biological Control of Green Turkey Bush" (PDF). Queensland Agricultural Journal: 433–434. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ Burrows, W.H. (1974). A Study of the Phenology and Germination of Eremophila gilessii in Semi-Arid Queensland (in Plant Morphogenesis as the Basis for Scientific Management of Range Resources. Washington D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture. pp. 150–159.
- ^ "Eremophila gilesii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Richmond, G.S. (1993). "A Review of the Use of Eremophila (Myoporaceae) by Australian Aborigines" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. 15 (2): 101–107. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 204–205. ISBN 9781876473655.