Eremophila nivea

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms  > Eudicots > Asterids >  Lamiales > Scrophulariaceae > Eremophila  nivea

Other links:

Plant  information

Common name:               Silky Eremophila  

• I

Conservation status:   

• In nature it is a rare shrub 

Etymology:   

• Eremophila is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐρῆμος (erêmos) meaning "lonely" or "desert" and φίλος (phílos) meaning “dear" or "beloved” alluding to the species' adaptation to arid environments

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Flowers:                  

• 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 tip

• 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

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Fruit:                         

• x

Leaves:         

•  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 

• Have a covering of woolly hairs

Stem & branches:    

•  x

Roots:         

• x

Habit:        

•  a flowering plant in the figwort family

• An erect shrub which grows to a height of between 0.8–1.6 m

•   rare shrub with hairy branches and leaves, and blue, purple or violet flowers.

Habitat:   

• 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

Distribution:                  

•  Endemic to Western Australia

• It is only known in the wild from near Three Springs in the Avon Wheatbelt and Yalgoo biogeographic regions

Species:                     

• World:            S,    G

• Australia:      S,    G

Additional notes:     

•    Taxonomy

  • The first formal description of this species was published in 1986 by botanist Robert Chinnock and the description was published in Nuytsia

  • The specific epithet (nivea) is a Latin word meaning "snowy" or "snow-white" in reference to the colour of the hairs on the branches and leaves of this species

• Conservation

  • This species is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) 

  • An Interim Recovery Plan has been prepared

• Use in horticulture

  • 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

  • It can be propagated from cuttings or by grafting onto Myoporum rootstock and opinion amongst horticulturalists differ on which is the better method

  • It will grow in most soils, is both drought and frost tolerant but needs to be grown in full sun

  • It benefits from regular pruning after flowering to preserve its shape and to help prevent fungal diseases

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eremophila_nivea (2023)