Eremophila is a
genus of about 220
species of plants in the figwort
family,
Scrophulariaceae all of which are
endemic to mainland
Australia. (One species,
Eremophila debilis is thought to be a recent arrival in
New Zealand). Eremophilas are widespread in the
arid areas of Australia, especially
Western Australia and range in size from low-growing shrubs to small trees. The
petals are joined, at least at their bases, into a tube with the upper petals different in size and shape from the lower ones. Some species have common names including
emu bush,
poverty bush or
fuchsia bush, reflecting the belief that emus eat the fruit, their arid environment or a superficial resemblance to the flowers of plants in the genus
Fuchsia.