Eremophila elderi is a shrub which grows to a height between 0.5 and 1.5 m (2 and 5 ft) with shiny, sticky leaves due to the presence of a resin which has a characteristic odour. Its branches are rough from the remains of winged leaf bases after the leaves have fallen. The leaves are arranged alternately, often clustered near the ends of the branches, and are mostly 29–53 mm (1–2 in) long, 8–25 mm (0.3–1 in) wide, usually elliptic to lance-shaped with wing-like extensions at their lower ends. The leaf margins are sometimes more or less serrated and the surface of the leaves is sometimes glabrous, other times covered with many glandular hairs.[2][3][4]
The flowers are borne in groups of two to five in leaf axils on hairy stalks, usually 10–21 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. There are 5 overlapping, sticky, lance-shaped to egg-shaped sepals which are different sizes but mostly 10–21 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long. The sepals are green to reddish-brown and are covered with glandular hairs. The petals are 18–28 mm (0.71–1.1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube is pale to very pale lilac, sometimes a darker shade of lilac with distinct red to purplish bands inside the tube. The tube is covered with glandular hairs on the outside but the petal lobes are glabrous on the inside. The inside of the tube is filled with woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the tube. Flowering occurs from May to October and is followed by fruits which are a narrow oval shape, partly hairy and yellow-brown to silvery in colour.[2][3][4]
Aromatic emubush occurs in the Rawlinson Range in Western Australia, in the Central Ranges biogeographic region.[7] It is widespread in the south-west of the Northern Territory and the north-west of South Australia where it is common on rocky slopes[4] and dry creek beds.[7]
The leaves of this emu bush were traditionally used by Alyawarre people for medicinal purposes and for bedding.[8]
Horticulture
This eremophila is an ideal container plant or for use as a feature plant in warm inland areas. It is usually propagated by grafting on Myoporumrootstock and grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny situation. It will not tolerate humidity or frosts but only needs occasional watering in summer.[9]
^ abcChinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 350–352. ISBN9781877058165.
^ abcBrown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. p. 92. ISBN9780980348156.
^ abc"Eremophila elderi". State Herbarium of Soputh Australia: eflora. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
