1. Description

2. Taxonomy and naming

3. Distribution

4. Ecology

5. Conservation

6. Uses
    Indigenous use  Horticulture 

7. References

• Stenochilus bignoniiflorus Benth.
• Bontia bignoniiflora (Benth.) Kuntze
• Pholidia bignoniiflora (Benth.) Kraenzl.

Eremophila bignoniiflora, commonly known as Bignonia emu bush, creek wilga, dogwood, eurah, gooramurra, kurumbimi (Jingulu and Mudburra languages) and river argee is a plant in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory and all mainland states of Australia. It is a spreading, weeping shrub or small tree with long, strap-like leaves. Its leaves are among the longest in the Eremophila genus and the flowers are also relatively large, reflecting their adaptation to pollination by birds.

Description

The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a straight stalk usually {{convert|9-18|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The 5 sepals are green, overlap slightly, are egg-shaped, pointed, have a distinct central ridge and are mostly {{convert|5-6.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long. The petals are {{convert|20-30|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, joined at their bases to form a tube. The petal tube is cream with crimson spots mostly on the lower petal lobe and inside the tube. There are 4 stamens which are about the same length as the petal tube. Flowers appear between May and August and are followed by fruit which are dry, oval-shaped and {{convert|20-30|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long.^[1][2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by botanist George Bentham in 1848 as Stenochilus bignoniiflorus. The description was published in Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia.^[6] In 1859 Ferdinand von Mueller changed the name to Eremophila bignoniiflora.^[7] The specific epithet (bignoniiflora) refers to the similarity of the flowers of this species to those in the family Bignoniaceae.^[1]

Distribution

Eremophila bignoniiflora occurs extensively in New South Wales and Queensland but also in the far north-east of South Australia and the extreme north-west corner of Victoria. There are scattered populations in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia between Derby and Halls Creek. The species occurs in floodplains surrounding major drainage systems and sometimes as scattered individuals in other places.

Ecology

The flowers of this species are bird pollinated.^[1]

Conservation

The species is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife^[8] and as "vulnerable" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.^[9]

Uses

Indigenous use

Horticulture

Gooramurra is widely grown in gardens from the southern Victorian coast and Sydney to central Queensland and is suitable for use as a screening plant in dry locations or as a feature plant. It is difficult to propagate from cuttings but can be grown from seed or by grafting onto Myoporum. In grows best in full sun and well-drained soil but is a smaller, more open shrub in clay. It is very drought tolerant and recovers from frost, especially as a mature specimen.^[5][11]

References

• Wilhelm von Knyphausen
• Wilhelm von Leeb
• Wilhelm von Mirbach
• Wilhelm von Opel
• Wilhelm von Röntgen
• Wilhelm von Schadow
• Wilhelm von Siemens
• Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen
• Wilhelm von Tegetthoff
• Wilhelm Waiblinger
• Wilhelm Wassmuss
• Wilhelm Wattenbach
• Wilhelm Weber
• Wilhelm Weinberg
• Wilhelm Wien
• Wilhelm Windelband
• Wilhelm Wirtinger
• Wilhelm Withöft
• Wilhelm Wulff
• Wilhelm Wundt
• Wilhelm (Xenosaga)
• Wilhelm Xylander
• Wilhelm Zaisser
• Wilhelm zu Wied
• Wilhem de Haan