Myoporum tetrandrum
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Slender myoporum
|image = Myoporum tetrandrum Porongurup2.jpg
|image_caption = Myoporum tetrandrum in the Porongurup National Park
|genus = Myoporum
|species = tetrandrum
|authority = (Labill.) Domin{{cite web|title=Myoporum tetrandrum|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/name/apni/106868|publisher=APNI|accessdate=29 November 2015}}
|synonyms = *Pogonia tetrandra Labill.
|}}
Myoporum tetrandrum, commonly known as slender myoporum or boobialla is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is an erect and spreading shrub endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, common in moist areas and like most of the other members of its genus has bell shaped, star-like white flowers in the leaf axils.
Description
Myoporum tetrandrum is a shrub sometimes growing to a height of {{convert|3|m|ft|sigfig=1}} with young branches that are glabrous and rather flattened. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are usually {{convert|32-80|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long, {{convert|3-10|mm|in|sigfig=1}} wide, elliptic in shape and usually have small teeth or serrations in approximately the outer half. The leaves are a similar deep green colour on both surfaces and the lower surface has a distinct mid-vein.{{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=152–155|edition=1st}}{{cite web|last1=Archer|first1=William|title=Myoporum tetrandrum|url=http://esperancewildflowers.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/myoporum-tetrandrum-boobialla.html|publisher=Esperance Wildflowers|accessdate=29 November 2015}}
The flowers are borne in groups of about 5 to 7 (sometimes more or fewer) on a stalk {{convert|4-7.5|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long. The flowers have 5 egg-shaped sepals and 5 petals, joined at their bases to form a tube. The petals are white with purple spots on the lobes of the tube and the upper part of the tube. The tube is about {{convert|2.5-4|mm|in|sigfig=1}} long and the lobes are slightly shorter than the tube. The inside of the tube and part of the lobes are hairy. There are 4 stamens which extend beyond the petals. Flowers are often present from May to January and the fruits that follow are green and fleshy at first but dry when mature.
Taxonomy and naming
Myoporum tetrandrum was first formally described by Jacques Labillardière in 1805 as Pogonia tetrandra.{{cite web|title=Pogonia tetrandra|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/instance/apni/478078|publisher=APNI|accessdate=29 November 2015}} In 1923, Karel Domin changed the name to Myoporum tetrandrum, describing the change in Vestnik Kralovske Ceske Spolecnosti Nauk, Trida Matematiko-Prirodevedecke. The specific epithet (tetrandra) is derived from the ancient Greek tetra- (τετρα-), meaning "four" and anēr, genitive andros (ἀνήρ, genitive ἀνδρός), meaning "male" or in this case "stamen".Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
Distribution and habitat
Slender myoporum occurs in Western Australia in near-coastal areas between the Stirling Range and Israelite Bay in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Warren biogeographic regions.{{FloraBase|name=Myoporum tetrandrum (Labill.) Domin|id = 7295}} It grows in sandy soil, usually in damp places like floodplains and along streams, often in association with Melaleuca species.{{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=344}}
Ecology
Myoporum tetrandrum contains a high percentage (up to 0.5%) of sesquiterpene essential oil making the plant toxic to livestock which suffer liver damage.{{cite journal|last1=Allen|first1=JG|last2=Seawright|first2=AA|last3=Hrdlicka|first3=J|title=The toxicity of myoporum tetrandrum (Boobialla) and myoporaceous furanoid essential oils for ruminants.|journal=Australian Veterinary Journal|date=June 1978|volume=54|issue=6|pages=287–92|pmid=687296|doi=10.1111/j.1751-0813.1978.tb02461.x}}
Use in horticulture
Slender myoporum is a hardy plant in well-drained soil in full sun and is most easily propagated from cuttings.{{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=272|edition=2nd}} It grows well in Portugal and is naturalised there.{{cite web|title=Myoporum tetrandrum|url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Myoporum+tetrandrum|publisher=Plants for a Future|accessdate=29 November 2015}}
References
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Category:Flora of Western Australia