Common Name: Berrigan Emubush

General Information

Eremophila longifolia is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a rounded crown; it can grow up to 8 metres tall. The plant suckers at the roots and can form thickets[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. Because of its attractive weeping habit, prolific showy flowers and general hardiness especially to drought, this plant would be ideal as a street tree, in landscaping, or in dense stands to make attractive screens or windbreaks[].

Known Hazards

The plant is toxic[].

Botanical References

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Range

Australia - widespread, being found in all mainland areas except the extreme north.

Habitat

Found in a variety of communities on most soil types[]. Often found on limestone, usually in inland areas[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eremophila longifolia is a plant of arid and semi-arid regions in Australia, being found from the warm temperate zone to the tropics. Plants are not very cold-tolerant but are said to be able to withstand short periods where temperatures fall to around -7°c[]. It is suited to dry climates but has been successfully cultivated in warm, temperate areas so long as there is not too much rain, which makes them susceptible to disease, root rot and frost damage[].
A very hardy plant that requires minimal care. It prefers an open sunny position with no shade, and requires a well-drained soil. It does not like heavy clay soils. Established plants are extremely drought tolerant and once established, no watering is required[];
The plant can flower all year round, though mainly in spring and early summer. Fruit only develops if there has been sufficient rain[[].
The plant responds well even to heavy pruning, resprouting rapidly in the growing season[].

Edible Uses

Fruit is globular with a diameter around 1 cm, fleshy and black-purple when ripe. Seed is a single hard four-celled stone[].

Medicinal

Indigenous people considered E. longifolia to be the most sacred and mystical plant species found in central Australia. It has many ceremonial and medicinal uses[].
Treats sores and colds[].

A decoction or liniment of the crushed leaves has been applied on the skin to treat scabies, sores, cuts and boils. The decoction has also been used for treating general pain and illness, including colds and fever, and has also been used as an eye wash[].
Infusions of the fresh leaves have been used for treating headaches and insomnia[]

Eremophila longifolia is an important medicine to women. Steam from the burnt leaves has been used after childbirth to 'smoke' mothers and their newborn babies to stop the mother’s bleeding and to strengthen the babies[].

The major components of the essential oil of the leaves have been found to be alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and limonene[].
Geniposidic acid, isolated from a methanol extract of the leaves, has been reported to demonstrate significant cardioactive effects[].

Other Uses

Wood - hard, close-grained, durable, brittle, hard to work. It is used for veneer, inlay work and cabinet making[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed can be difficult to germinate - exposing them to smoke prior to sowing can help, as can mechanically abrading some of the outer seedcoat to allow moisture to penetrate[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving the plants some protection from the cold for their first few winters outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Pot up in the autumn. There are variable results, the cuttings often proving difficult to strike[].
Division of root suckers is the most effective method of increasing plants - dig them up from around the main plant and treat them in the same way as cuttings until they are rooting freely[].