Plants of
South Australia
Eremophila longifolia
Scrophulariaceae
Long-leaf Emubush,
Weeping Emubush
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 5

Prior names

Stenochilus longifolius

Common names

Long-leaf Emubush

Weeping Emubush

Etymology

Eremophila from the Greek 'eremophiles' meaning loving solitude or desert; alluding to the habitat. Longifolia from Latin meaning with long leaves.

Distribution and status

Found across much of South Australia except for Kangaroo Island and the South-east, growing in a variety of communities on most soil types, widespread on the plains and in the ranges. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Grey to green shrub or small tree 8 m tall, frequently root-suckering and forming dense stands. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate, to 200 mm long and 14 mm wide, acuminate often with a hooked tip, pubescent to tomentose. Flowers in clusters of 1–5 in axils with red to brownish red, spotted or unspotted tubular flowers. Flowering all year round. Fruits are dark red to black ovoid-oblong fruit to 12 mm long and 12 mm, fleshy, shiny. Seed embryo type is linear fully developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Collect mature fruits when skin begins to crinkle, either from the tree directly or off the ground beneath it. Soak fruit with 1% pectinase for 24 hours, then rub gently through sieves to remove unwanted material. Rub and change the water a few times until all the fresh are removed. Leave the cleaned seed to dry and then store with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Germination 10%, seed sterilised (10% Demestos solution for 5min), then scarified (covering structure removed) on 1% w/v agar, 12/12 dark/light, 31°C. See http://data.kew.org.sid

Germination table:
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We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.