Silky eremophila

Eremophila nivea

''Eremophila nivea'', commonly known as silky eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. In nature it is a rare shrub with hairy branches and leaves, and blue, purple or violet flowers.
Eremophila nivea It's important to me that any natives I bring in to the garden are local to this location - but I had to bend my personal rules for Eremophila nivea, endemic to a small area over in the west of the country. What's not to love about this beautiful Australian native? The foliage is silvery and incredibly soft, silky and tactile, the flowers so very pretty. And loved by insects. Unfortunately, listed as endangered in its natural habitat. Eremophila is a large genus of 214 species, all endemic to Australia. This species grows to around 1.5 m in height. Australia,Botany,Eremophila nivea,Flora,Geotagged,Lamiales,Purple Flowers,Scrophulariaceae,Silky eremophila,Spring,new south wales

Appearance

''Eremophila nivea'' is an erect shrub which grows to a height of between 0.8–1.6 m. Its branches, leaves and sepals are covered with a layer of soft white to greyish matted hairs giving the plant a silvery-greyish appearance.

The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are linear in shape, mostly 8–18 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide and have a covering of woolly hairs.

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on woolly stalks 2–5.5 mm long. There are 5 overlapping, triangular to lance-shaped, tapering sepals which are 14–21 mm long and have purplish-black tips. The petals are 15–23 mm long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube.

The petal tube is lilac-coloured, white with yellow-brown spots inside. The outer surface of the tube and both surfaces of the lobes are glabrous but the inside of the tube is filled with long, soft hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube.

Flowering occurs from August to October and the fruits which follow are dry, woody, oval-shaped with a pointed end and 4.5–6 mm long.
Eremophila nivea Native to southern Western Australia on sandy clay and clay loam. Eremophila is a large genus of 214 species, all endemic to this country. They are generally plants of inland and arid areas. Eremophila nivea is a shrub to about 1.5 m high by a similar width. It has a very distinctive silvery appearance. The soft leaves are linear to lance-shaped, about 30 mm long by 4 mm wide. The mauve or lilac-coloured flowers are seen late winter to early summer, and are about 20 mm long and tubular in shape. The fruits are egg shaped and about 6 mm long. (The stone structure behind the plant is the Wurrungwuri sculpture. It is a design of Chris Booth, made of quartz pebbles incorporating an Aboriginal shield design from the Sydney Gadigal community). Australia,Eremophila nivea,Figwort,Flora,Geotagged,Lamiales,Scrophulariaceae,Silky eremophila,Winter,botany,new south wales,plant,silky eremophila

Distribution

''Eremophila nivea'' is only known in the wild from near Three Springs in the Avon Wheatbelt and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. Only a few populations are known, some of which are in danger of roadworks as they occur on road verges. It grows in sandy clay and clay-loam.

Status

This species is classified as "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation and an Interim Recovery Plan has been prepared.

Habitat

''Eremophila nivea'' is only known in the wild from near Three Springs in the Avon Wheatbelt and Yalgoo biogeographic regions. Only a few populations are known, some of which are in danger of roadworks as they occur on road verges. It grows in sandy clay and clay-loam.

Cultural

Although rare in nature, silky eremophila is often available in specialist nurseries with its popularity in part due to its soft, silvery-grey foliage and pale to deep blue flowers. A form with white flowers is also sometimes available.

References:

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Status: Unknown
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderLamiales
FamilyScrophulariaceae
GenusEremophila
SpeciesE. nivea
Photographed in
Australia