Eucalyptus abdita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus abdita |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
abdita
|
 |
|
| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
Eucalyptus abdita is a special kind of mallee tree. It has smooth grey bark and its fruits look like small cones or barrels. This tree grows in a few separate areas north and north-east of Perth, in Western Australia.
Contents
What is Eucalyptus abdita like?
Eucalyptus abdita is a mallee, which means it's a type of tree that grows with many stems from the ground, like a bush. It usually grows about 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) tall. This tree has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires. The bark is smooth and grey all over.
Leaves and Flowers
When the plant is young, its leaves have stalks (petiolate) and are ovate (egg-shaped) to deltoid (triangle-shaped). Adult leaves are usually about 5.5 to 8 centimeters (2.2 to 3.1 inches) long. They are also about 1.1 to 1.8 centimeters (0.4 to 0.7 inches) wide.
The flower buds grow in groups of up to 13. These groups are not branched. The buds are long with long, cone-shaped caps. After the buds, white flowers appear. The fruits are shaped like cones or small barrels. They are about 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide.
How Eucalyptus abdita Got Its Name
Eucalyptus abdita was first officially described in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, found specimens near Mt Misery in 1988. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Meaning of "Abdita"
The second part of its scientific name, abdita, is a Latin word. It means "hidden" or "concealed." This name was chosen because the scientists first thought this tree was a different species. They mistook it for E. pluricaulis.
Where Eucalyptus abdita Grows
This eucalypt grows in separate areas in Western Australia. It is found in a few specific spots. These include the area near Dandaragan, Mt Peron in the Lesueur National Park, and Three Springs. These places are in the Geraldton Sandplains and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions.
Habitat and Similar Trees
Eucalyptus abdita likes to grow on slopes and in rocky areas. It prefers sandy clay soils or gravel over a hard layer called laterite. It is part of woodlands.
It can sometimes be confused with Eucalyptus pluricaulis. However, E. pluricaulis has bluish-green leaves that stay dull. Its buds are also longer and narrower, and its flowers are yellowish. E. abdita is different from Eucalyptus wandoo because E. abdita grows as a mallee, with many stems.
Protecting Eucalyptus abdita
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has a special list for rare plants. Eucalyptus abdita is on this list. It is classified as "Priority Two". This means that not much is known about it. It is only found in one or a few locations.
