Eremophila alternifolia
{{Short description|Species of plant endemic to Australia}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Narrow-leaved poverty bush
|image = Eremophila alternifolia flower.jpg
|image_caption = Growing in the ANBG
|genus = Eremophila (plant)
|species = alternifolia
|authority = R.Br.{{cite web|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/94443|publisher=Australian Plant Census|accessdate=7 April 2020}}
|synonyms =
- Bondtia alternifolia Kuntze orth. var.
- Bontia alternifolia (R.Br.) Kuntze
- Eremophila alternifolia R.Br. var. alternifolia
- Eremophila alternifolia var. latifolia F.Muell. ex Benth.
- Pholidia alternifolia (R.Br.) Wettst.
- Stenochilus alternifolius (R.Br.) Kraenzl.
}}
Eremophila alternifolia, commonly known as the narrow-leaved emu bush{{Cite web |title=Eremophila alternifolia |url=https://anpsa.org.au/plant_profiles/eremophila-alternifolia/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) |language=en-AU}} or narrow-leaved poverty bush, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to areas between the far west of New South Wales, the far south of the Northern Territory and the southern half of Western Australia. It is a variable shrub, with respect to its growth form, leaf shape and flower colour. Aboriginal Australians used the leaves to treat ailments such as colds and skin infections and pharmacological testing has shown that the leaves contain compounds that affect cardiac activity.
Description
Eremophila alternifolia is a shrub with many branches and varying in height but mostly {{convert|1-4|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}. The branches have many raised resin glands and raised leaf scars. The leaves are arranged alternately and are usually {{convert|20-40|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|1-3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide although other dimensions are common. The leaves vary in shape from almost cylinder-shaped to flattened and egg-shaped but have a small point on the end.{{cite book|last1=Chinnock|first1=R.J. (Bob)|title=Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae|date=2007|publisher=Rosenberg|location=Dural, NSW|isbn=9781877058165|pages=617–618|edition=1st}}{{cite web|last1=Chinnock|first1=Robert J.|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eremophila~alternifolia|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Plantnet|accessdate=9 December 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Archer|first1=William|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url=http://esperancewildflowers.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/eremophila-alternifolia-broad-leaf-form.html|publisher=Esperance Wildflowers|accessdate=9 December 2015}}{{cite web|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url=http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/scotia/key/Plants%20and%20Fungi%20of%20south%20western%20NSW/Media/Html/Eremophila_alternifolia.htm|publisher=Lucid Central|accessdate=9 December 2015}}{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Andrew|last2=Buirchell|first2=Bevan|title=A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia|date=2011|publisher=Simon Nevill Publications|location=Hamilton Hill, W.A.|isbn=9780980348156|pages=34–35|edition=1st}}
The flowers are purple, red, pink, white, cream, or yellow and appear on the plant from early winter to early autumn. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on an s-shaped stalk which is usually {{convert|20-40|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. There are 5 greenish-yellow or reddish, egg-shaped sepals, mostly {{convert|7-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long with the outer ones slightly smaller. The 5 petals are {{convert|18-30|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and joined at their base to form a tube with the upper 4 lobes pointed and the lower one spreading. Flowering occurs from June to October and is followed by fruit which are cone-shaped, dry, woody, glabrous and {{convert|5-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long.
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.{{cite web|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/name/apni/94443|publisher=APNI|accessdate=9 December 2015}}{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Robert|title=Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae|date=1810|location=London|page=518|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/21871#page/386/mode/1up|accessdate=9 December 2015}} The specific epithet (alternifolia) is a botanical term meaning "having leaves that alternate on each side of a stem".{{cite book|last1=Brophy|first1=Joseph J.|last2=Craven|first2=Lyndley A.|last3=Doran|first3=John C.|title=Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses|date=2013|publisher=Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research|location=Canberra|isbn=9781922137517|page=73}}
Other common names for this species are round-leaved poverty bush, scented poverty bush, emubush, native honeysuckle, honeysuckle and narrow-leaved fuchsia bush.{{cite web|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url= http://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/708059|publisher=APNI|accessdate=4 January 2016}}
In 1870, George Bentham described two subspecies in Flora Australiensis:{{cite book |last1=Bentham |first1=George |last2=von Mueller |first2=Ferdinand |title=Flora Australiensis (Volume 5) |date=1870 |publisher=Lovell Reeve & Co. |location=London |page=30 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/42576#page/38/mode/1up |accessdate=7 April 2020}}
- E. alternifolia R.Br. var. alternifolia has more cylindrical or needle-shaped leaves, usually spotted petals and a wider distribution, mainly north of the Trans-Australian Railway and including the Northern Territory and New South Wales;
- E. alternifolia R.Br. var. latifolia F.Muell. ex Benth. has broader leaves, flowers without spots and is found mainly south of the Trans-Australian Railway in Western Australia and South Australia .
Distribution
Eremophila alternifolia occurs in arid areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and the Barrier Range in New South Wales, in many different habitats with stony or red soil.{{cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Eremophila~alternifolia |title=Eremophila alternifolia R.Br.|accessdate=5 February 2013 |author=|work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia}}{{cite book|last1=Paczkowska|first1=Grazyna|last2=Chapman|first2=Alex R.|title=The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue|date=2000|publisher=Wildflower Society of Western Australia|location=Perth|isbn=0646402439|page=333}}
Conservation status
In Western Australia this poverty bush is widespread and is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.{{FloraBase|name=Eremophila alternifolia|id=7180}}
Uses
=Medicine=
Parts of this plant have been used as a traditional medicine. A small quantity was used in a preparation for treating colds and inflammation of the throat, an infusion of the leaves as a soporific, and other parts combined as a topical treatment. An indigenous name for the plant, Tarrtjan translated as "Goldfields", a region in the West where it is found.[http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/potm/?y=2012&m=2 Eremophila alternifolia — Poverty Bush] FloraBase: Plant of the Month — February 2012{{cite journal|last1=Richmond|first1=Guy S.|title=A review of the use of Eremophila (Myoporaceae) by Australian Aborigines|journal=Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden|date=1993|volume=15|issue=2|pages=101–107}} Compounds such as verbascoside present in the leaves of this species have been shown to have both antibacterial properties and the ability to dilate blood vessels.{{cite journal|last1=Pennacchio|first1=Marcello|last2=Ghisalberti|first2=Emilio L|title=Indigenous knowledge and pharmaceuticals|journal=Journal of Australian Studies|date=January 2000|volume=24|issue=64|pages=173–175|doi=10.1080/14443050009387569|s2cid=54745135}}
=Horticulture=
This eremophila is an attractive shrub which is covered with masses of flowers in season. As with other members of the genus, it is sold as a drought resistant garden plant that is appealing to birds. It is a common garden plant, growing best in dry climates, but has also been grown in more humid areas. Most forms are moderately frost tolerant but require well-drained soil and full sun. It is most easily propagated from cuttings.{{cite web|title=Eremophila alternifolia|url=http://anpsa.org.au/e-alt.html|publisher=Australian Native Plants Society Australia|accessdate=9 December 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133225/http://anpsa.org.au/e-alt.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|last1=Wrigley|first1=John W.|last2=Fagg|first2=Murray|title=Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping|date=1983|publisher=Collins|location=Sydney|isbn=0002165759|page=212|edition=2nd}}{{cite book|last1=Boschen|first1=Norma|last2=Goods|first2=Maree|last3=Wait|first3=Russell|title=Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate|date=2008|publisher=Bloomings Books|location=Melbourne|isbn=9781876473655|page=66}}
Gallery
Image:Eremophila alternifolia (Kings Park).jpg|Eremophila alternifolia in Kings Park, Perth
Image:Eremophila alternifolia (ANBG2).jpg|Eremophila alternifolia in the Australian National Botanic Gardens