Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda

Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a small shrub with hairy leaves and white to violet flowers often growing on stony hillsides. It is similar to subspecies pulcherrima but is distinguished from it by its yellow new growth and more southerly distribution.

Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda
E. jucunda jucunda leaves and flower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species:
Subspecies:
E. j. subsp. jucunda
Trinomial name
Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda

Description

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Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda is a shrub which usually grows to a height of 0.2–1 metre (0.7–3 ft). The stems and branches are hairy and the leaves are densely arranged near the ends of branches, lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 8–20 millimetres (0.3–0.8 in) long and 2–6 millimetres (0.08–0.2 in) wide. The young leaves and branches are bright yellow.[2][3]

The flowers are white or lilac to purple and occur singly in the leaf axils on flower stalks 3–9 millimetres (0.1–0.4 in) long. There are 5 sepals which are linear to lance-shaped, 9–17 millimetres (0.4–0.7 in) long and 1–3 millimetres (0.04–0.1 in) wide. The 5 petals form a tube 17–29 millimetres (0.7–1 in) which is more or less hairy on the outer surface. Flowering occurs from July to September and is followed by fruit which are oval to cone-shaped and 5–9 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long.[2][3]

 
E. jucunda jucunda growing 55km east of Meekatharra

Taxonomy and naming

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Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda is an autonym and therefore the taxonomy is the same as for Eremophila jucunda.[1]

Distribution and habitat

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Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda grows on stony flats or hillsides, often in mulga woodland. It occurs in a broad area between Sandstone and Mount Vernon.[4][5]

Conservation

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Eremophila jucunda subspecies jucunda is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda". APNI. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera: a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 515–516. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 154. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. ^ a b "Eremophila jucunda subsp. jucunda". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora: a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 337. ISBN 0646402439.