Eremophila youngii
Eremophila youngii subsp. youngii 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. youngii
Binomial name
Eremophila youngii
Synonyms[1]

Eremophila youngii is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dense, erect shrub with many of its parts covered with a layer of grey to yellowish-grey scales and with pink, purple or red flowers.

Description

Eremophila youngii is an erect, highly-branched, shrub which grows to a height of between 1 and 4 m (3 and 10 ft). Its branches, leaves, flower stalks and sepals are covered with a layer of grey or yellowish scales, although these are sometime lost as the part ages. The branches are rough due to the presence of persistent leaf bases and are covered with small, raised, warty lumps. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the branches, linear to elliptic in shape, tapering towards both ends, and mostly 24–45 mm (0.9–2 in) long, 2–5.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and have a prominent mid-vein on the lower side.[2][3]

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on stalks 2–3.5 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. There are 5 hairy, lance-shaped to triangular sepals which are 2–5.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The petals are 18–30 mm (0.7–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is pink, purple or red and more or less hairy on both the inside and outside of the petal tube and its lobes, although the inside of the tube has long, soft hairs. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering time depends on subspecies and the fruit which follows flowering is dry, cone-shaped to oval-shaped and 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long with a papery covering.[2][3]

E. youngii subsp. youngii growing near Shark Bay
E. youngii in Maranoa Gardens, Victoria

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1876 by Ferdinand von Mueller,[4] based on specimens collected at Queen Victoria Spring by Jess Young during the Giles expedition of May 1875.[5] The description was published in the tenth volume of Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[6] The specific epithet youngii honours Young, who collected specimens of many species during the expedition.

There are two subspecies:

  • Eremophila youngii F.Muell subsp. youngii[7] which mostly flowers between June and October and has branched hairs on the outside of the petal tube and fruits;[2]
  • Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota Chinnock [8] which flowers between January and September following rain and has a scaly covering on the petals and fruits.

Distribution and habitat

Subspecies youngii is widespread in a variety of habitats between Kalgoorlie and Exmouth in the Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[9] Subspecies lepidota is a rarely-seen plant that grows on clay flats and floodplains between Newman and Exmouth[3] in the Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert and Pilbara biogeographic regions.[10]

Conservation

Subspecies youngii is as "Not Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[9] but subspecies lepidota is classified as "Priority Four"[10] meaning that is rare or near threatened.[11]

Use in horticulture

This species of eremophila has been grown in many parts of Australia for many years. It is a hardy and reliable shrub for larger gardens and bears masses of brick red or dusky pink flowers as well as being attractive to nectar-feeding birds. It is easy to propagate from cuttings and the shrub will grow in most soils, including heavy clay, in full sun or part shade. It is drought tolerant, rarely requiring extra water even during a long dry spell and is very frost tolerant.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila youngii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 451––454. 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. pp. 288–289. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. ↑ "Eremophila youngii". APNI. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Hall, Norman (1978). Botanists of the Eucalypts. Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. ISBN 0-643-00271-5.
  6. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1876). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 10. Melbourne. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 1 April 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ "Eremophila youngii subsp. youngii". APNI. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota". APNI. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Eremophila youngii subsp. youngii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  10. 1 2 "Eremophila youngii subsp. lepidota". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  12. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 60. ISBN 9781876473655.
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