Eucalyptus adesmophloia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus adesmophloia |
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| E. adesmophloia growing near Porongurup National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
adesmophloia
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Eucalyptus adesmophloia is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It's known for its grey bark, shiny dark green leaves, and white flowers that grow in big bunches. Its fruits look like cones or half-circles.
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What Does This Eucalyptus Look Like?
Eucalyptus adesmophloia is a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows with many stems from the ground. It can reach about 7 meters (23 feet) tall.
- Bark: This tree has loose, rough bark. It peels off in flat pieces and short strips. This reveals new, smooth bark underneath that is grey and cream-colored.
- Leaves: The leaves are shaped like a spear. They are about 15 to 80 millimeters (0.6 to 3.1 inches) long and 16 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide. When they first appear, they are dull, but they soon become shiny and dark green.
- Flowers: The flowers grow in groups of 9 to 27. These groups are on a stem called a peduncle, which is about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. Each individual flower sits on a tiny stalk called a pedicel, which is up to 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) long.
- Flower Buds: The flower buds are greenish. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a smooth, cone-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap is usually as long as, or a bit longer than, the base of the flower, which is called the floral cup. The stamens (the parts that produce pollen) are white.
- Fruits: After the flowers, woody fruits appear. These are called capsules. They are shaped like cones or half-circles and are about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long and wide.
How Did It Get Its Name?
Scientists first officially described this eucalyptus in 1993. Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper named it Eucalyptus decipiens subsp. adesmophloia. They published their description in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Later, in 2012, two other scientists, Dean Nicolle and Malcolm French, decided it was unique enough to be its own species. They changed its name to Eucalyptus adesmophloia.
The specific part of its name, adesmophloia, comes from the Greek words for "unfettered" (meaning not tied down) and "bark". This refers to how the bark of this tree is loose and peels off in strips.
Where Does It Grow?
Eucalyptus adesmophloia grows in areas called mallee shrubland. This is a type of bushland where many mallee trees and shrubs grow together.
You can find this eucalyptus commonly in the south-west of Western Australia. It grows in places between the Stirling Range, Bremer Bay, Manypeaks, and the Fitzgerald River National Park.
Is It Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Eucalyptus adesmophloia. They have officially said that this eucalyptus is "not threatened". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
