''Eremophila linsmithii'' is a plant in the figwort

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

, Scrophulariaceae and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Queensland. It is an erect shrub, branching from the base with narrow, sticky leaves, and white to pale lilac-coloured flowers and is found only in the south west corner of the state.

Description

''Eremophila linsmithii'' is an erect,

top A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect. Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few ...

-shaped shrub branching from its base, usually growing to a height of between . The branches, leaves and

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s are sticky and shiny due to the presence of

resin In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses on natu ...

. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are mostly long, wide, linear in shape and hairy, although the hairs are often obscured by the resin. The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on stalks long. There are 5 overlapping green to reddish-brown, egg-shaped sepals which are mostly long but which enlarge after flowering. The 5

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are long, and are joined at their bases to form a tube. The petal tube is white to pale lilac-coloured and glabrous on the outside. The inside surface of some of the petal lobes is hairy and the inside of the tube is woolly. There are four

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s which are fully enclosed in the tube. The fruit is dry, flask-shaped, about long with a papery covering.

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by R.J.F. Henderson in 1978 and the description was published in ''Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden''. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''linsmithii'') honours the Australian botanist,

Lindsay Stuart Smith Lindsay Stuart Smith (27 November 1917 – 12 September 1970) was an Australian botanist, naturalist and public servant. Early years Lindsay Smith was born in Bundaberg in Queensland and attended Bundaberg South State School and later Bundaber ...

Distribution and habitat

''Eremophila linsmithii'' is found along drainage lines and on stony slopes in the far south-western corner of Queensland, often growing in association with mulga and other eremophilas.

Conservation status

''Eremophila linsmithii'' is classified by the Queensland Government as of "least concern".

Use in horticulture

This eremophila is a hardy shrub with bright green leaves and large flowers and is suitable for a low-maintenance garden. It can be propagated from cuttings and grown in most soils, including heavy clay and only needs the occasional watering during a long drought. It will tolerate light frosts and if damaged by a severe frost can be rejuvenated by pruning.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15594400 Flora of Queensland linsmithii Plants described in 1978 Taxa named by Rodney John Francis Henderson