Burdett gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burdett gum |
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| Eucalyptus burdettiana in the Fitzgerald River National Park | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
burdettiana
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The Burdett gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus burdettiana) is a special type of tree or shrub found only in Western Australia. It's also known as Burdett's mallee. This plant is part of the Myrtaceae family, which includes many well-known Australian trees. It has smooth bark, long, thin leaves, and unique greenish-yellow flowers that grow from horn-shaped buds. After the flowers, it produces cup-shaped fruits.
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Contents
What Does the Burdett Gum Look Like?
The Burdett gum is usually a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows many stems from a special woody base underground called a lignotuber. It can also grow as a shrub. It typically reaches a height of 1–4 m (3 ft 3 in – 13 ft 1 in) (about 3 to 13 feet). Its bark is smooth and can be brownish or dark orange.
Leaves and Flowers
Young Burdett gum plants have triangular or egg-shaped leaves that are about 35–80 mm (1.4–3.1 in) long and 25–60 mm (1–2 in) wide. These leaves always have a small stem called a petiole. As the plant gets older, its leaves become lance-shaped (like a spearhead). These adult leaves are about 65–95 mm (2.6–3.7 in) long and 25–60 mm (1–2 in) wide, with a petiole about 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long. They are shiny green on both sides.
The flowers grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven buds. These buds sit on a flattened stem called a peduncle, which is often bent downwards and is about 25–50 mm (0.98–2.0 in) long. The individual buds don't have their own small stems; they attach directly to the peduncle. Mature buds are shaped like cylinders, measuring about 20–58 mm (0.79–2.3 in) long and 4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in) wide. They have a long, horn-shaped cap called an operculum, which is three to four times longer than the base of the flower.
Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cup or a bell and are about 19–27 mm (0.75–1.1 in) long and 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide. They also grow on a spreading or downturned peduncle.
How Was the Burdett Gum Named?
The scientific name of a plant, its specific epithet, helps us identify it. The Burdett gum, Eucalyptus burdettiana, was first officially described in 1939. This description was done by two botanists, William Blakely and Henry Steedman. They published their findings in a scientific journal called Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium.
The plants they studied were collected by Henry Steedman in 1938. He found them growing on rocky areas of West Mount Barren near a town called Hopetoun. The name burdettiana was chosen to honor William Burdett (1871-1940), who was a friend of Henry Steedman.
Where Does the Burdett Gum Live?
The Burdett gum is found only in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows on rocky ridges made of quartzite in the Barren Range. This area is part of the beautiful Fitzgerald River National Park. It prefers to grow in sandy soils.
Sadly, there aren't many Burdett gum plants left. The only known population has about 140 plants, which are divided into five smaller groups.
Is the Burdett Gum in Danger?
Yes, the Burdett gum is considered an "endangered" species. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. The Australian Government lists it as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) also lists it as "Threatened Flora."
The biggest danger to the Burdett gum is something called "inappropriate fire regimes." This means that fires happen either too often or not often enough, or at the wrong time, which can harm the plants and stop them from growing or reproducing properly. Protecting this special plant is very important.
