Family:

Myoporaceae

Eremophila deserti

Turkeybush

(syn. Myoporum deserti)

Other Names: Ellangowan poison-bush, Dogwood

First Nations Name(s):

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Regional:

Murrumbidgee catchment, along creeks and rivers.

Australia:

Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, WA.

Habitat:

A wide variety of communities on calcareous red earths to stony skeletal soils on hillsides and riversides.

Habit:

Erect, much-branched hairless shrub 1-4 m high, with warty branchlets.

Characteristics:

Has been reported to poison stock.

Flowering:

White, late winter to early summer. Bell-shaped.

Seed Collection:

Collect when fruit are yellow.

Propagation:

From cuttings or fresh seed sown late summer-autumn. Remove flesh of fruit and soak overnight in warm water. Sow 2-3 mm deep and cover with fine gravel.

VALUES:

Land Protection:

Stabilises soil on riverbanks.

Wildlife:

Habitat. Fruits eaten by plains turkeys, emus, honeyeaters and silvereyes.

Ornamental:

Attractive ornamental for garden windbreaks, parks, screens or informal hedges. Prune lightly and regularly to promote bushiness.