Desert wandoo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Desert wandoo |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
nigrifunda
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The Desert Wandoo (scientific name: Eucalyptus nigrifunda) is a special kind of tree. It only grows in a small part of central Western Australia. This tree has smooth reddish-brown bark. It also has some rough, flaky black bark near the bottom of its trunk.
Its leaves are shaped like spearheads. The Desert Wandoo produces white flowers. These flowers grow from buds that are grouped together. After flowering, it grows fruit that looks like a small barrel.
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What the Desert Wandoo Looks Like
The Desert Wandoo is a tree that usually grows to be about 5 to 7 meters tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its lower trunk has rough, flaky black bark. Higher up, the bark is smooth and reddish-brown.
The adult leaves of the Desert Wandoo are shaped like spearheads. They are a dull bluish-green color on both sides. These leaves are about 65 to 110 millimeters long. They are also about 9 to 15 millimeters wide. Each leaf narrows down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 10 to 20 millimeters long.
The flower buds grow in groups of nine. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a stalk about 10 to 15 millimeters long. The individual buds are about 1 millimeter long.
When the buds are ready, they are shaped like spindles. They are about 9 to 12 millimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, looks like a cone or a horn.
The Desert Wandoo has been seen flowering in July. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a cylinder or a barrel. It is about 4 to 9 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. The parts that open to release seeds are near the rim of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
The Desert Wandoo was first officially described in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, gave it its scientific name. They published their findings in a science journal called Nuytsia. They had collected samples of the tree in 1984.
The second part of its scientific name, nigrifunda, comes from Latin words. "Nigri" means "black," and "fundus" means "bottom." This name refers to the dark, black bark found at the base of the tree's trunk.
Where it Lives
The Desert Wandoo is found in a small area of the Great Victoria Desert. It grows on rocky slopes made of granite that is breaking down. You can find it growing in sandy-clay soils in this region.
Protecting the Desert Wandoo
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given the Desert Wandoo a special conservation status. It is classified as "Priority Four."
This means the tree is rare or almost threatened. It needs to be watched and protected to make sure it continues to grow in the wild.
