Eremophila (plant)

Eremophila glabra

The Emusträucher ( Eremophila ) are endemic in Australia plant genus of the family figwort family ( Scrophulariaceae ).

Features

The members of this genus are small to medium-sized shrubs, only a few species are small trees. The leaves are opposite or alternate. Many species have gray, hairy leaves as radiation protection, others have leaves with sticky surface to prevent evaporation.

The flowers appear singly in leaf axils. Calyx and corolla are fünfzählig. The calyx is free, the petals are fused. The crown is tubular and bent. The upper lip is usually two -, three-lobed lower lip. The flowers are rather large and often strikingly colored (white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple or brown ), sometimes called the calyx.

Around three-quarters of the species are pollinated by insects ( entomophily ), the other of birds ( Ornithophilie ). The fruits are fleshy or dry fruit capsules with one to twelve seeds.

The chromosome number is x = 27

Dissemination

The Emusträucher are endemic to Australia. They grow mainly in the dry areas of Mulga in central and western Australia. Because of the occurrence of extremely poor soils, many representatives are also called poverty bush ( poverty bush).

System

The genus was formerly part of the Myoporaceae family, this family was, however, incorporated into the Scrophulariaceae family. The name Emustrauch ( emubush ) is based on the erroneous assumption that the fruits were eaten by emus and the seeds would get only through the intestinal transit their ability to germinate.

There are 214 described species. About 50 other species are not yet described.

The types include:

• Eremophila abietina Kraenzl.
• Eremophila alternifolia R. Br
• Eremophila cuneifolia Kraenzl.
• Eremophila debilis ( Andr. ) Chinnock
• Eremophila decipiens Ostenf.
• Eremophila dichroantha Diels
• Eremophila glabra ( R. Br ) Ostenf.
• Eremophila hygrophana Chinnock
• Eremophila maculata P. J. Waste.
• Eremophila miniata C. A. Gardner
• Eremophila mitchellii Benth.
• Eremophila nivea Chinnock
• Eremophila oppositifolia R.Br.
• Eremophila subteretifolia Chinnock

Use

Many species are cultivated as ornamental plants for their flowers.

Several species are poisonous, which can lead to poisoning of grazing animals. The Aborigines use some species for medicinal purposes.

Swell

The article is based on the following links:

• Eromophila in Flora Base - The Western Australian Flora
• Colin Jennings: Eremophila: The Emu Bush
• Eremophila and Relatives - Background