Brumby mallee-gum facts for kids

The Brumby mallee-gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus phoenix) is a special type of tree. It's a mallee, which means it's a small, bushy tree with many stems growing from the ground. You can only find this plant in a small area of Victoria, Australia. It has smooth, light-colored bark, shiny green leaves, and white flowers.

What Does the Brumby Mallee-Gum Look Like?

The Brumby mallee-gum is a small tree. It usually grows up to 5 meters (about 16 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.

Its bark is smooth and white to light grey. It peels off in thin strips. Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have dull, light green leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or are almost round. They are about 5 to 8 cm (2-3 inches) long and 1.5 to 4 cm (0.6-1.6 inches) wide.

Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or an egg. These leaves are about 8 to 10 cm (3-4 inches) long and 2 to 3 cm (0.8-1.2 inches) wide. They grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 1 to 1.7 cm (0.4-0.7 inches) long.

The flowers grow in groups of five to eleven. They appear where the leaf meets the stem, in a spot called a leaf axil. Each group of flowers grows on a thin stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.8 to 1.4 cm (0.3-0.6 inches) long. Individual flower buds have smaller stalks called pedicels, about 0.3 to 0.4 cm (0.1-0.2 inches) long.

Mature flower buds are shaped like a club. They are about 0.6 to 0.8 cm (0.2-0.3 inches) long and 0.3 to 0.4 cm (0.1-0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap is about 0.3 to 0.5 cm (0.1-0.2 inches) long. The Brumby mallee-gum blooms from late spring to early summer, and its flowers are white.

After flowering, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, half-round capsule. It is about 0.8 cm (0.3 inches) long and wide. The parts that open to release seeds are level with the rim of the fruit.

How Did It Get Its Name?

Scientists gave the Brumby mallee-gum its official name, Eucalyptus phoenix, in 2013. Kevin Rule and Susan G. Forrester described it in a science journal called Muelleria. They found the first samples near a place called Brumby Point.

The name phoenix is very special. It refers to the Phoenix, a famous bird from Greek myths. The Phoenix was said to rise from the ashes after a fire. This plant got its name because scientists found its seeds after a big fire in 2013. It was like the plant was reborn from the flames, just like the mythical Phoenix!

Where Does the Brumby Mallee-Gum Live?

The Brumby mallee-gum is very rare. It is only found in one small area near Brumby Point. There are fewer than 100 adult plants known to exist. This area is on a spur (a small ridge) in a subalpine woodland. This means it lives in a forest high up in the mountains, at an altitude of about 1360 meters (about 4460 feet).

Is It in Danger?

Yes, the Brumby mallee-gum is considered "endangered" in Victoria. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Protecting these few remaining plants is very important to help the species survive.