Rough emubush

Description

Eremophila behriana is an upright shrub usually growing to a height of less than 0.6 m (2 ft) with stems that are usually hairy. The leaves are arranged alternately, mostly 4–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long, 3–7.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and with serrated margins. They are also hairy, especially on the lower surface and have longer hairs on the margins near the base. The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils on a stalk less than 1 mm (0.04 in) long. There are 5 lance-shaped, green sepals 2.5–6.5 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long with hairy margins. The petals are 6–13 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long and joined at their lower end to form a tube. The tube is a shade of lilac to purple, the lower petal lobe is covered with short hairs and the inside of the tube has many spidery hairs. The 4 stamens do not extend beyond the petal tube. Flowering occurs from late spring to early summer and is followed by fruit which are oval-shaped, wrinkled near the top end and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long.