Eremophila shonae is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub or a low spreading shrub, depending on subspecies and has very sticky branches and leaves due to the presence of large amounts of resin. The leaves are narrow and the flowers are mauve to purple and white inside with purple spots.
| Eremophila shonae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. shonae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila shonae | |
Description
editEremophila shonae is an erect shrub with hairy leaves or sometimes a low, open shrub with glabrous leaves, depending on subspecies. It grows to a height of between 0.6 and 2.5 m (2 and 8 ft) with very sticky leaves and branches. The leaves are linear in shape, 3–10 mm (0.1–0.4 in) long, about 0.5–1.2 mm (0.02–0.05 in) wide and have a blunt tip.[2][3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on straight, sticky stalks 6–9.5 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. There are 5 green to purple, lance-shaped to egg-shaped sepals which are about 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and have a pointed tip. The petals are 13–22 mm (0.5–0.9 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is mauve, purple or violet on the outside and white with purple spots inside the tube. The outside of the petal tube and lobes is hairy but the inside surface is glabrous apart from the base of the lobes and the inside of the tube which is filled with woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering time depends on subspecies. The flowers are followed by fruit which are a flattened oval shape, hairy, 4–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and have a ribbed, wrinkled surface.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editThe 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 (shonae) honours the author's wife, Shona Chinnock.[2]
There are two subspecies:
- Eremophila shonae Chinnock subsp. shonae[5] which is an erect shrub growing to 1.0–2.5 m (3–8 ft), and which has hairy leaves and sepals (although the hairs are sometimes hidden by resin) and which flowers from May to September.[2][3]
- Eremophila shonae subsp. diffusa Chinnock[6] which is a low, diffuse shrub growing to 0.4–0.8 m (1–3 ft), and which has mostly glabrous leaves and sepals and which flowers from June to October.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
editSubspecies shonae grows in shallow, stony soils in rocky places and is widespread in areas from the north of Mullewa to the Wiluna area[3] in the Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[7] Subspecies diffusa grows in sandy soil near granite in rocky places between New Springs and Yarlarweelor pastoral stations in the Gascoyne and Murchison biogeographic regions.[8]
Conservation
editSubspecies shonae is classified as "not threatened"[7] but subspecies diffusa is classified as "Priority Three" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[8] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[9]
Use in horticulture
editThe generally light-coloured flowers of this shrub contrast attractively with its dark green foliage. It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny location. It is drought tolerant but can be damaged, sometimes killed by severe frosts.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Eremophila shonae". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 386–388. ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ a b c d e Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. pp. 254–255. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ "Eremophila shonae". APNI. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila shonae subsp. shonae". APNI. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Eremophila shonaesubsp. diffusa". APNI. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Eremophila shonae subsp. shonae". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b "Eremophila shonae subsp. diffusa". 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 15 March 2016.
- ^ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 166–167. ISBN 9781876473655.