narrow-leaved poverty bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Narrow-leaved Emu Bush
• Narrow-leaved Poverty Bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pholidia alternifolia
• Bondtia alternifolia
• Stenochilus alternifolius
• Eremophila alternifolia var. latifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, specifically within the family Scrophulariaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Eremophila, with the species name alternifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to various regions across the Australian continent. It can be found growing within the state of New South Wales. Its distribution also extends into the Northern Territory. Additionally, the species is present in South Australia. Finally, it is documented to occur in Western Australia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Eremophila alternifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, and it maintains a terrestrial habit despite its ability to inhabit aquatic and semiaquatic environments. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a minimum height of 1 meter and can grow to a maximum height of 4 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eremophila alternifolia is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage that reflect its structural development. The leaf length within this species exhibits significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm. These measurements indicate a specialized growth pattern where leaf expansion is governed by specific environmental and developmental parameters, ensuring the plant maintains optimal surface area for its biological processes within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eremophila alternifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of basic microbiology

Chemicals

Eremophila alternifolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 8,19-dihydroxyserrulat-14-ene, 8-hydroxyserrulat-14-en-19-oic acid, Pinobanksin, Pinobanksin 3-acetate.

8,19-dihydroxyserrulat-14-ene

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

8-hydroxyserrulat-14-en-19-oic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pinobanksin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pinobanksin 3-acetate

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Eremophila alternifolia has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Eremophila alternifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bacteria.

Bacteria

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Eremophila alternifolia has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, crude leaf-extract, extract, fresh leaves, handmade leaf-pastes.

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude leaf-extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fresh leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Handmade leaf-pastes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf-infusions

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology