Eremophila attenuata, also known as Connie Sue poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-east of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many branches often ending in a spine.
| Connie Sue poverty bush | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
| Genus: | Eremophila |
| Species: | E. attenuata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eremophila attenuata | |
Description
editEremophila attenuata is a glabrous shrub sometimes growing to a height of 1 m (3 ft) with many tangled branches which become spiny as they age. The leaves are arranged alternately, 9–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 1.0–1.5 mm (0.04–0.06 in) wide, linear to lance-shaped, slightly bluish-green in colour with a few hairs on the edges and upper surface.[2][3]
The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on an S-shaped stalk 14–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long. There are 5 green, narrow triangular to lance-shaped sepals differing slightly in size from each other and about 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. The 5 petals are about 15–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a bell-shaped tube. The tube is purple and glabrous except for the inside of the tube which is densely hairy. The lower middle petal lobe covers the end of the tube. Flowering occurs in November but the fruit have not been described.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editThe species was first formally described by Robert Chinnock in 2007 with the description published in Eremophila and Allied Genera: A Monograph of the Plant Family Myoporaceae. The type specimen was collected in 1970 from 130 km (80 mi) north of Rawlinna.[4] The specific epithet (attenuata) is a Latin word meaning "narrowing" or "tapering", referring to the sepals.[2][3][5]
Distribution and habitat
editThis eremophila is only known from the area where the type specimen was collected near the Connie Sue Highway near Rawlinna in the Nullarbor biogeographic region[3][6] where it grows on plains, in rangelands and open depressions.[7]
Conservation status
editEremophila attenuata is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[6] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Eremophila attenuata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 376–377. ISBN 9781877058165.
- ^ a b c d Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 43. ISBN 9780980348156.
- ^ "Eremophila attenuata". APNI. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 140. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b "Eremophila attenuata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Eremophila attenuata". Biodiversity Information Explorer. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 16 December 2015.