Boongul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boongul |
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| Eucalyptus transcontinentalis near Kalgoorlie | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
transcontinentalis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Eucalyptus transcontinentalis, often called redwood or boongul, is a special tree. It is a small to medium-sized tree that grows only in the southwest of Western Australia. Sometimes, it grows as a "mallet," which is a type of tree that has a single trunk and does not regrow from its base if it gets cut down or burned. This eucalyptus has smooth bark, long, thin leaves, and pale yellow flowers. Its fruits look like small, woody pots.
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What the Redwood Looks Like
Eucalyptus transcontinentalis is a tree that usually grows between 12 and 25 meters tall. That's about as tall as a four to eight-story building! It has smooth bark that can be white or grey. Sometimes, you might see pale yellow or pink spots on its bark.
Young Plants and Leaves
When the plant is young, its stems are square-shaped. They even have a small "wing" on each corner. The young leaves are dull greyish or a bluish-grey color, and they are shaped like an egg. They are about 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters long.
Adult leaves are arranged in a different way. They are a dull bluish-green color on both sides. These leaves are shaped like a spear, about 5 to 15 centimeters long. They get narrower towards their stem, which is called a petiole.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds of the redwood usually grow in groups of seven. They are oval or oblong in shape. Each bud has a beak-like or horn-shaped cap on top.
This tree flowers between July and December. Its flowers are a pretty pale yellow color. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like an urn or a barrel. They are about 6 to 10 millimeters long and have a bluish-grey look.
How the Redwood Got Its Name
The scientific name Eucalyptus transcontinentalis was first officially described in 1919. A scientist named Joseph Maiden gave it this name. He found samples of the tree near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia in 1909.
Scientists sometimes use different names for the same plant over time. This tree was once known by other names, like Eucalyptus oleosa var. glauca.
People also call this tree "Goldfields Redwood." This name comes from the mining areas in Western Australia where the tree grows.
Where the Redwood Lives
The redwood tree grows in the southern and central "goldfields" region of Western Australia. It likes to grow on flat areas and small hills. You can find it in open forests and woodlands. It grows in red sandy soil.
Its range stretches from Frank Hann National Park near Salmon Gums in the east. It goes all the way to near Norseman and north towards Menzies.
Is the Redwood in Danger?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the redwood tree. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these trees, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
