Eremophila georgei
Eremophila georgei leaves and flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
E. georgei
Binomial name
Eremophila georgei

Eremophila georgei is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a common, widespread shrub in central areas of the state, often growing on rocky ridges and hillsides and has serrated leaves and mauve, purple or pink flowers.

Description

Eremophila georgei is a shrub growing to between 0.3 and 3 metres (1 and 10 ft) tall with its branches covered with a dense layer of white hairs. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are elliptic to egg-shaped with serrated edges, mostly 8–23 mm (0.3–0.9 in) long and 5.5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The leaves are also covered on both surfaces with white hairs and raised glands.[2][3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a hairy stalk mostly 16–36 mm (0.6–1 in) long. There are 5 sepals which are hairy, greenish-brown to purple, mostly 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long, sticky and often shiny. The petals are 16–35 mm (0.6–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tube is mauve, purple or pink on the outside and white inside. The outside is covered with hairs, the inside surface of the petal lobes is glabrous and the inside of the tube is densely filled with woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed within the tube. Flowering occurs from March to December and is followed by fruits which are hairy, 5.5–8.5 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long with a pale yellow-brown papery covering.[2][3]

E. georgei growing near Malcolm Dam, Leonora
E. georgei flower side view

Taxonomy and naming

Eremophila georgei was first formally described by Ludwig Diels in 1905 and the description was published in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie.[4][5] The specific epithet (georgei) honours William George, a mine manager on the Mount Margaret goldfields, who collected the type specimen in 1902.[4][2]

Distribution and habitat

This eremophila is common in central areas of Western Australia growing in sand, clay and stony soils on flats and rocky ridges in the Avon Wheatbelt, Central Ranges, Coolgardie, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Murchison, Nullarbor and Yalgoo biogeographic regions[2][3][6][7]

Conservation status

Eremophila georgei is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[6]

Use in horticulture

This eremophila is an attractive species due in part to its large, colourful flowers which are often present over a long period. It can be grown from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and the latter method is preferable if the shrub is to be grown in heavy soils or in areas of high humidity. Cuttings may take months to strike, even in warm weather. The plant will grow in full sun or dappled shade, needs little watering and is frost tolerant when mature.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Eremophila georgei". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 356–357. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 112. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 "Eremophila georgei". APNI. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Diels, Ludwig; Pritzel, Ernst (1905). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35: 543–545. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Eremophila georgei". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 336. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 98–99. ISBN 9781876473655.
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