Citation: Chinn., J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 1:258 (1979) subsp. tener Chinn., J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 1:259, fig. 12 (1979).

Synonymy: E. glabra (R. Br.)Ostenf. var. viridiflora sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 789 (1957), non (Benth.) Black.

Common name: None

Description:
Broom-like shrub to 3 m tall; branches tuberculate, the tubercles often coalescing to form irregular ridges, whitescaly, glabrescent; leaves opposite, linear, terete or subterete and channelled along the adaxial side, 14-32 x c. 1 mm, apex uncinate, densely whitescaly when immature but soon glabrous.

Flowers 1 or rarely 2 per axil; pedicel 1-3.5 mm long, scaly; sepals valvate, green, more or less equal, triangular, 1-1.5 x 0.5 mm, outside surface white-scaly, inside surface glabrous except for branched hairs along the margins and towards the apex; corolla 9-24 mm long, mauve to white, outside surface stellate-pubescent, the surface completely obscured by the hairs at bud stage, inside of tube arachnoid-hairy, lobes pubescent; lobes obtuse; stamens included, filaments bearded towards the base, glabrous above, anthers pubescent; ovary tomentose, the hairs branched, style pilose.

Fruit drupaceous, succulent, narrow-ovoid, 5-6.5 x 3.5-4.5 mm, pubescent.

	Flowering branch and leaf variation.
Image source: fig. 609H in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Distribution:    W.Aust. Conservation status: native Flowering time: mainly Aug. — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Corolla lilac to purple or more rarely white, normally with well developed guide bands of spots or more rarely lines in the tube or on the lobes; tube variable, base bulbous or cylindrical, constricted or unconstricted above the ovary; lobes equal or unequal although the upper lip pair often fused for most of their length, medial lobe of lower lip not reflexed; stamens included or rarely exserted beyond the throat, filaments straight or curved, and pairs normally widely diverging in the middle but approaching each other distally. Species 16-44.

Taxonomic notes: The two forms of this species found in S. Aust. are very distinct and will be recognised at subspecific level at a later date. The one found in NW, FR, EP, YP, SE has white woolly leaves and very unequal sepals which are often fused together in the lower third. The other form found in NL, MU, YP, SL is aromatic and glandular hairy with longer eglandular branched hairs at least on the branches. Black (1957) misapplied the name E. glabra var. viridiflora to this form.

Author: Not yet available