Cue York gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cue York gum |
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| Eucalyptus striaticalyx near Lake Annean | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
striaticalyx
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The Cue York gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus striaticalyx) is a special type of tree or large shrub. It's also known as kopi gum. This plant grows only in Western Australia. It has thick, rough bark on its trunk and big branches. Its leaves are shaped like a spear. The tree produces creamy white flowers from groups of 7 to 13 buds. After flowering, it grows fruit shaped like a cone or cup.
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What Does Cue York Gum Look Like?
The Cue York gum can be a tree or a mallee, which is a type of shrub that grows many stems from the ground. It usually grows to be about 5 to 12 meters (16 to 39 feet) tall. The tree has thick, rough, dark grey bark on most of its trunk. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be creamy brown or pinkish.
Leaves and Flowers
Young Cue York gum plants have bluish-green leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or a wide spear. They are about 55 to 110 millimeters (2.2 to 4.3 inches) long and 25 to 40 millimeters (1.0 to 1.6 inches) wide.
As the plant gets older, its leaves become a dull grey-green or blue-green color. They are shaped like a spear and are about 70 to 175 millimeters (2.8 to 6.9 inches) long. These adult leaves are also 7 to 25 millimeters (0.3 to 1.0 inches) wide. The base of the leaf narrows down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 13 to 30 millimeters (0.5 to 1.2 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of 7 to 13. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 3 to 8 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long.
Mature buds are oval-shaped, about 8 to 13 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. They have a beak-like cap called an operculum. The Cue York gum can flower in most months of the year, and its flowers are creamy white.
Where Does Cue York Gum Grow?
The Cue York gum is found in the northern Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It grows in sandy or powdery soils. You can find it on sand dunes near salt lakes, on low hills, and along drainage lines. Its distribution is spread out from near Meekatharra to near Kalgoorlie.
Different Types of Cue York Gum
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Eucalyptus striaticalyx. One of these, called Eucalyptus striaticalyx subsp. delicata, grows in a smaller area. It is found around Lake Annean and Lake Austin. This subspecies has a slightly different growth habit, narrower leaves, and smaller flower buds and fruits compared to the main type.
Is Cue York Gum Protected?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this eucalypt as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
