Eremophila deserti (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Chinnock

Growth Habit

Eremophila deserti (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Chinnock varies in growth habit from a low, spreading shrub 0.5 m (2 ft) tall to a tall, erect shrub that reaches up to 4 m (10 ft) in height.

Young Foliage Trait

When young, its leaves and branches are sticky and shiny, a trait caused by the presence of resin.

Leaf Characteristics

Its leaves are arranged alternately along stems; they are typically 25–50 mm (1–2 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, and are glabrous, thick, linear, and sickle-shaped with a hooked tip.

Flower Sexual Type

This species often produces separate male and female flowers, though other flowers on the plant have both male and female reproductive parts.

Flower Scent and Arrangement

The flowers are honey-scented, and are borne singly or in groups of up to three in leaf axils, on glabrous, sticky stalks that are 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long.

Sepal Characteristics

There are 5 glabrous, green, tapering triangular sepals, each 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) long.

Petal Tube Structure

The 5 petals are joined at their base to form a tube 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long, with petal lobes at the end of the tube extending a further 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in).

Petal Coloration

The petals are white to cream-colored, and sometimes have a slight pink tint near their bases.

Petal Lobe Shape

All petal lobes have a similar size and shape except for the lower middle lobe, which has a small notch at its center.

Petal Surface Hairiness

The petal tube is mostly glabrous, with the exception of its inner surface.

Stamen Count

Unlike most other eremophilas that have 4 stamens, Eremophila deserti has 5 stamens.

Stamen Position

These stamens almost completely block the entrance to the petal tube.

Flowering Period

Flowering occurs in most months of the year, and is followed by the development of fruits.

Fruit Coloration

The fruits are fleshy, pale yellow when young, and turn brownish purple as they age.

Fruit Shape and Size

They are oval to almost spherical in shape, and 4–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.

General Distribution

Eremophila deserti has a wide distribution across inland Australia.

Queensland Habitat

It is widespread in south-eastern Queensland, where it most often grows in brigalow.

Eastern and Southern State Habitats

It grows in Eucalyptus woodland in New South Wales and Victoria, and in mallee woodland in South Australia and Western Australia.

Western Australia Distribution

Its distribution is more scattered across Western Australia, where it only occurs south of 25°S latitude, and is most commonly found along the Nullarbor Plain.