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Eremophila latrobei

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Crimson turkey bush
Eremophila latrobei latrobei 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. latrobei
Binomial name
Eremophila latrobei
Synonyms[2]

Bontia latrobei (F.Muell.) Kuntze

Eremophila latrobei, commonly known as crimson turkey bush, native fuchsia, Latrobe's emu bush, grey fuchsia bush, warty fuchsia bush and Georgina poison bush[2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect, highly branched shrub with usually linear leaves and red to purple-red flowers and which occurs in all mainland states, including the Northern Territory but excluding Victoria.

Description

Eremophila latrobei is usually an erect, many-branched shrub but sometimes straggly or spindly and which usually grows to a height of 0.5–4 m (2–10 ft). Its branches are rough due to the presence of persistent leaf bases and are usually glabrous except when immature. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches, varying in shape from thread-like to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and from needle-shaped to flat, mostly 9–50 mm (0.4–2 in) long and 0.7–3.5 mm (0.03–0.1 in) wide.[2][3][4][5][6]

The flowers are usually borne singly in leaf axils on a hairy, curved stalk, 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. There are 5 lance-shaped, green or purple sepals which have hairy edges and are mostly 10–19 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long but increase in size after flowering. The petals are mostly 20–32 mm (0.8–1 in) long and are joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is red to purple-red, rarely yellow or cream-coloured. The inside and outside of the tube and petal lobes have scattered glandular hairs. The 4 stamens extend beyond the end of the petal tube. Flowering occurs mainly from March to October and is followed by fruits which are dry, woody, oval-shaped to conical, hairy, 6.5–8 mm (0.26–0.31 in) long and have a papery, sometimes sticky covering.[2][3][4][5][6]

E. latrobei latrobei growing near Mount Augustus
E. latrobei filiformis leaves and flowers
E. latrobei filiformis growing near Newman

Taxonomy

The first formal description of the species was published in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Report on the Plants Collected During Mr. Babbage's Expedition into the North West Interior of South Australia in 1858, the type specimen being collected from the "Thompson River".[1][7] The specific epithet latrobei honours Charles La Trobe who was Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria from 1851 to 1854.[7]

Three subspecies are recognised by Chinnock:

  • Eremophila latrobei F.Muell. subsp. latrobei[8] which has flat leaves (rather than thread-like leaves) and sepals which have branched hairs on the outer surface;[2][3]
  • Eremophila latrobei subsp. filiformis Chinnock[9] which has thread-like, almost cylindrical leaves;[2][3]
  • Eremophila latrobei subsp. glabra (L.S.Sm.) Chinnock[10] which has flat leaves (rather than thread-like leaves) and glabrous sepals;[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

The subspecies latrobei and glabra are widespread, occurring in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, although in New South Wales, subspecies glabra is only found in the far north-west corner of the state, near Tibooburra. Both subspecies grow in a wide range of habitats and vegetation associations but subsp. latrobei favours mulga and mallee woodland and subsp. glabra prefers sand plain.[2]

Subspecies filiformis is mainly found in the Hamersley Range but isolated populations occur in the Central Ranges, Gibson Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara and Tanami biogeographic regions.[11][12]

Conservation

All three subspecies of E. latrobei are classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[11][13][14]

Use in horticulture

Crimson turkey bush is well known in cultivation. It is a variable species, so that several forms together would add variety to a garden as well as attracting nectar-feeding birds. It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and only needs occasional watering. Its frost-tolerance depends on which form is grown and therefore it is best grown in a frost-free area. It will grow in more humid areas but requires full sun.[6][15][16]

References

  1. ^ a b "Eremophila latrobei". APNI. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 500–505. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. ^ 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. 162–166. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. ^ a b "Eremophila latrobei". State Herbarium of South Australia:eflora. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b Chinnock, Robert J. "Eremophila latrobei". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: Plantnet. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Eremophila latrobei". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  7. ^ a b von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). Report on the Plants Collected During Mr. Babbage's Expedition into the North West Interior of South Australia in 1858 (PDF). Melbourne. p. 17. Retrieved 9 February 2016.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ "Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei". APNI. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Eremophila latrobei subsp. filiformis". APNI. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Eremophila latrobei subsp. glabra". APNI. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Eremophila latrobei subsp. filiformis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  12. ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora: a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 338. ISBN 0646402439.
  13. ^ "Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  14. ^ "Eremophila latrobei subsp. glabra". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  15. ^ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 116. ISBN 9781876473655.
  16. ^ Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 213. ISBN 0002165759.
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