Eremophila microtheca, also known as heath-like eremophila,[3] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with densely hairy branches and leaves, narrow leaves and pale lilac-coloured flowers and which emits a strong odour.
| Heath-like eremophila | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Mount Annan Botanic Garden | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. microtheca
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila microtheca | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
editEremophila microtheca is an erect shrub which grows to a height of between 0.7 and 1.6 m (2 and 5 ft) and which emits a strong odour. The branches are covered with fine, branched hairs except for glabrous bands under the leaves. The leaves are linear to almost cylindrical in shape and are mostly 6–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide.[3][2]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a stalk 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. There are 5 hairy, overlapping, lance-shaped, tapering sepals which are mostly 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The petals are 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petals are pale lilac to purple on the outside and white inside with purple spots. The petal tube and lobes are glabrous except for a few hairs inside the tube. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering occurs from July to September and the fruits which follow are dry, oval-shaped, wrinkled, glabrous and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.[3][2]
Taxonomy and naming
editThe species was first formally described in 1882 by Ferdinand von Mueller and George Bentham from specimens collected by Augustus Frederick Oldfield at Port Gregory. They gave the species the name Pholidia microtheca and the description was published in Flora Australiensis.[4][5] In 1882, Mueller changed the name to Eremophila microtheca, publishing the change in Systematic Census of Australian Plants.[6][7] The specific epithet (microtheca) is derived from the Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós) meaning "small"[8]: 522 and θήκη (thḗkē) meaning "case" or "sheath"[8]: 789 in reference to the small fruits of this species.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editEremophila microtheca occurs in moist places between Kalbarri and Eneabba[3] in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region.[9]
Conservation status
editEremophila microtheca is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[9] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[10]
Use in horticulture
editThe massed display of blue or purple flowers of this shrub are attractions, but not its unpleasant odour and it needs to be grown where this is not a problem. It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock. It will grow in most soil types, including the clay soil in which it grows naturally but needs to be grown in full sun. Mature plants tolerate long drought or temporary flooding but they do not grow well in areas of high humidity. It will also tolerate light frosts and an occasional light pruning.[11]
Products
editThe plants chemistry has been researched for various properties.[12][13][14]
References
edit- ^ "Eremophila microtheca". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 September 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. 267–268. ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ a b c d Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 185. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ "Pholidia microtheca". APNI. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1870). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 5. London: L. Reeve and Co. p. 14. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila microtheca". APNI. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1882). Systematic Census of Australian Plants. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 104. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ a b "Eremophila microtheca". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 132–133. ISBN 9781876473655.
- ^ Kumar, Rohitesh; Duffy, Sandra; Avery, Vicky M; Carroll, Anthony R; Davis, Rohan A (2018), Microthecaline A, a Quinoline Serrulatane Alkaloid from the Roots of the Australian Desert Plant Eremophila microtheca, American Chemical Society, ISSN 0163-3864
- ^ Barnes, Emma C; Kavanagh, Angela M; Ramu, Soumya; Blaskovich, Mark A; Cooper, Matthew A; Davis, Rohan A (2013), Antibacterial serrulatane diterpenes from the Australian native plant Eremophila microtheca, Elsevier, ISSN 0031-9422
- ^ Zhang, Chen; Lum, Kah Yean; Taki, Aya C; Gasser, Robin B; Byrne, Joseph J; Wang, Tao; Blaskovich, Mark AT; Register, Emery T; Montaner, Luis J; Tietjen, Ian; Davis, Rohan A (2021), Design, synthesis and screening of a drug discovery library based on an Eremophila-derived serrulatane scaffold, Elsevier BV, ISSN 0031-9422