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Eremophila compacta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Genus:	Eremophila
Species:	E. compacta
Binomial name
	Eremophila compacta; S.Moore

Eremophila compacta, commonly known as compact poverty bush,^[2] is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the central west of Western Australia. There are two distinct subspecies differing in their growth habit but both have grey leaves due to a covering of white or grey hairs, and purple to blue, rarely white flowers.

Description

Eremophila compacta is an erect shrub usually growing to about 0.4–1.5 m (1–5 ft) high with rough stems due to raised leaf bases. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are lance-shaped or egg-shaped, mostly 9–22 mm (0.4–0.9 in) long and 2.5–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide.^[3]^[4]

The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a straight stalk 4.5–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. There are 5 lance-shaped, pointed, hairy, green to brownish-purple sepals, 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long. The petals are 19–27.5 mm (0.7–1 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The petal tube and the lobes are purple to lilac-coloured on the outside and the tube is white inside and filled with long spidery and woolly hairs. The 4 stamens are fully enclosed in the petal tube. Flowering time depends on subspecies and the fruits that follow it are covered with sticky resin, oval-shaped, flattened and 5.5–7.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long.^[3]^[4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Spencer Le Marchant Moore in 1921 and the description was published in Journal of Botany, British and Foreign.^[5]^[6] The type specimen was collected by "Miss Brown" at "Yalgoo on redsoil hills or flats".^[5]^[6] The specific epithet (compacta) refers to the growth habit of the type species.^[3]

In his monograph, Eremophila and allied genera, Robert Chinnock described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Eremophila compacta S.Moore subsp. compacta, commonly known as compact eremophila^[7] is a compact shrub growing to a height of 0.4–0.8 m (1–3 ft) and which has a shorter flower stalk (4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in)), densely hairy, forward-facing sepals and flowers during most months after rain;^[3]^[4]
Eremophila compacta subsp. fecunda Chinnock^[8] is an open shrub growing to a height of 1–2 m (3–7 ft) and which has a longer flower stalk (8–16 mm (0.3–0.6 in)), sparsely hairy, spreading sepals and flowers between May and October.^[3]^[4]

Subspecies fecunda usually has blue petals but can have pink or white flowers and is a softer-looking shrub.^[9]

The specific epithet is derived from the "Latin compacta, close together". The epithet fecunda is derived from the "Latin fecunda, fruitful, fertile; referring to the abundance of this subspecies".^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Eremophila compacta occurs near and between Carnarvon, Cue, Paynes Find, Murchison and Mount Augustus^[4] in the Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions^[10] where it grows in red sandy or clay soils.^[11]

Conservation status

Eremophila compacta is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.^[10]

Use in horticulture

Compact poverty bush has attractive silvery-grey foliage and pink to purple flowers. It is suitable for gardens in dry inland areas but also thrives in coastal areas including near Sydney. It is usually propagated from cuttings. It is drought resistant and prefers full sun but a well-drained soil is essential. It will tolerate light frosts and responds to regular pruning with a more compact shape.^[9]

References

^ "Eremophila compacta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
^ "Eremophila compacta". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 505–507. ISBN 9781877058165.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Brown, Andrew; Buirchell, Bevan (2011). A field guide to the eremophilas of Western Australia (1st ed.). Hamilton Hill, W.A.: Simon Nevill Publications. pp. 63–64. ISBN 9780980348156.
^ ^a ^b "Eremophila compacta". APNI. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
^ ^a ^b Moore, Spencer Le Marchant (1921). "Alabastra Diversa". The Journal of Botany. 59: 246. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
^ "Eremophila compacta subsp. compacta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
^ "Eremophila compacta subsp. fecunda". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
^ ^a ^b Boschen, Norma; Goods, Maree; Wait, Russell (2008). Australia's eremophilas : changing gardens for a changing climate. Melbourne: Bloomings Books. pp. 76–77. ISBN 9781876473655.
^ ^a ^b "Eremophila compacta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
^ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 334. ISBN 0646402439.