Eremophila calorhabdos

Red rod
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Eremophila
Species: E. calorhabdos
Binomial name
Eremophila calorhabdos
Diels[1]
Synonyms[2]

Eremophila calorhabdos, commonly known as red rod or spiked eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a distinctive shrub with erect, rod-like branches up to 2.5 m (8 ft) high, leaves with small teeth along the edges, and flowers that change from orange to lipstick pink as they open.

Description

Eremophila calorhabdos is an unusual shrub with a single vertical branch or a few branches up to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall. The branches are densely covered with white hairs contrasting with the green leaves which have fewer hairs. The leaves are crowded and overlapping, arranged spirally, mostly 13–24 mm (0.5–0.9 in) long and 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide and elliptic to egg-shaped with small, fine teeth along the edges.[2][3]

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a stalk 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long. There are 5 triangular, green sepals which are 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The petals are 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The flower buds are orange-coloured but when open, the tube is bright pink to red or purplish. The petal lobes are pointed and the lowest lobe is curved backwards. The 4 stamens extend beyond the petal tube. Flowering mostly occurs from August to May but the flowers are usually most prolific from October to December. Flowering is followed by fruit which are dry, oval-shaped and 6.5–7.5 mm (0.3–0.3 in) long.[2][3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Ludwig Diels in 1904 and the description was published in Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie.[1][7] The specific epithet (calorhabdos) refers to the similarity of this species to those in the genus Calorhabdos in the family Plantaginaceae and is derived from the Greek words καλός (kalos) meaning "beautiful"[8] and ῥάβδος (rhábdos), meaning "rod" or "wand".[9]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila calorhabdos occurs in areas north of Esperance between Grass Patch, Balladonia and Lake King in the Esperance Plains, Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions. It is common in areas disturbed by fire, growing in scattered colonies in sandy, clay or loamy soils on undulating plains and areas that are wet in winter.[2][3][4][10][11]

Conservation

Eremophila calorhabdos is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[10]

Use in horticulture

Red rod is an attractive, fast growing, garden feature plant that has been grown and flowered in different parts of Australia.[12] It is easily propagated from cuttings although a grey-leaved form is more difficult. It grows well in a variety of soils, in full sun or filtered shade and is drought tolerant and frost tolerant as long as the soil is not wet. It can be pruned to form a hedge but must not be pruned below the foliage.[5][13]

References

  1. 1 2 "Eremophila calorhabdos". APNI. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 569–571. ISBN 9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 53. ISBN 9780980348156.
  4. 1 2 Archer, William. "Eremophila calorhabdos - red rod". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 Williams, Laura. "Eremophila calorhabdos". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). [Kenthurst, N.S.W.]: Rosenberg Pub. p. 107. ISBN 9781877058844.
  7. ↑ Diels, Ludwig; Pritzel, Ernst Georg (1904). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (2): 545–546. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "καλός". Wiktionary. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "rhabdo". Wiktionary. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Eremophila calorhabdos". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  11. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 333. ISBN 0646402439.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 35. ISBN 9781876473655.
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