Darling Range ghost gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darling Range ghost gum |
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| Eucalyptus laeliae in Kalamunda National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
laeliae
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| E. laeliae, field distribution | |
The Eucalyptus laeliae, often called the Darling Range ghost gum or butter gum, is a type of tree. It is usually small to medium-sized. You can only find it on the western side of the Darling Range in Western Australia.
This tree has smooth, white bark that looks like powder. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear. The flowers grow in groups of seven to eleven and are a creamy white color. After flowering, it produces fruit that looks like a cup or barrel.
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What the Darling Range Ghost Gum Looks Like
The Eucalyptus laeliae tree typically grows to be about 5 to 20 meters (16 to 66 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged.
The bark is smooth and powdery. It is usually white, but in autumn, it can turn a beautiful butter yellow color. Young trees and new shoots have bluish-green leaves that are egg-shaped or spear-shaped. These leaves are about 65 to 125 millimeters long and 23 to 45 millimeters wide.
Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are a dull bluish-green or yellowish color on both sides. These leaves are spear-shaped or slightly curved, about 85 to 135 millimeters long and 10 to 25 millimeters wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is 8 to 20 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven in the leaf corners. They are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 8 to 15 millimeters long. Each individual bud has a small stem, or pedicel, about 2 to 3 millimeters long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval or club-shaped. They are about 6 to 7 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. Each bud has a rounded cap, called an operculum, with a small point on top.
This tree flowers between December and February. The flowers are creamy white or white and look soft and bristly. After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that is cup-shaped or barrel-shaped. It is about 5 to 7 millimeters long and 4 to 6 millimeters wide.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus laeliae was first officially described by two botanists, Francis Podger and George Chippendale, in 1969. They wrote about it in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia.
The first example of this tree, called the type specimen, was collected by Leslie McGann near North Dandalup in 1966. The name laeliae comes from the name of an ancient Roman figure. It refers to the tree's smooth, column-like trunk.
Where it Lives
The Darling Range ghost gum grows on hills and among granite rocks. You can find it along the west coast in the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia.
It grows between Kalamunda in the north, Wandering to the east, and Capel to the south. It prefers to grow in sandy-clay-loam soils, which are a mix of sand, clay, and rich soil.
Growing the Darling Range Ghost Gum
You can buy this tree as a young plant (seedling) or as seeds. It grows well in full sun and in different types of soil that drain water well.
Sometimes, this tree can get a problem called leaf blister. This is when insects attack the leaves.
Is it Endangered?
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.
See also
In Spanish: Eucalipto fantasma de los Montes Darling para niños
