Baker's mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baker's mallee |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
bakeri
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The Baker's mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus bakeri) is a special type of eucalypt tree. People also call it the mallee box. It only grows in eastern Australia. This tree has rough, stringy bark on its main trunk. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be white or grey. It has long, thin leaves, and its flowers are white. The flowers grow in small groups, and the fruit looks like a small, round ball.
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What Does Baker's Mallee Look Like?
The Baker's mallee is usually a mallee. This means it's a shrubby tree with many stems growing from the ground. It can reach about 6 metres (20 feet) tall. Sometimes, it grows as a single-trunk tree up to 12 metres (39 feet) tall.
This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires. The bark on its main trunk is grey to brown and feels rough or flaky. The bark higher up is smooth, white, or grey. It peels off in long strips all year.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants and new shoots have leaves that grow in pairs. These leaves are long and narrow, like a spear. They are about 50 to 80 millimetres (2 to 3 inches) long. They don't have a leaf stalk.
Adult leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are also long and narrow, about 40 to 105 millimetres (2 to 4 inches) long. They have a stalk about 5 to 13 millimetres (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Both sides of the adult leaves are shiny and green or yellow-green.
The flowers grow in groups of seven to thirteen. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of flowers is on a small stem called a peduncle. This stem is about 3 to 15 millimetres (0.1 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual flower has a tiny stalk about 1 to 2 millimetres (0.04 to 0.08 inches) long.
The flower buds are shaped like an oval or a spindle. They are about 8 to 11 millimetres (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long. They have a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. Baker's mallee mainly flowers from June to August. Its flowers are white. After flowering, it produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a half-sphere or a flattened ball. They are about 3 to 4 millimetres (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 4 to 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) wide.
How Baker's Mallee Got Its Name
The Baker's mallee was first officially described in 1913. A scientist named Joseph Maiden wrote about it. He used a plant sample collected near Wallangarra in 1911. The person who collected it was Edward Swain.
Joseph Maiden noted that local people called this tree "Mallee Box." The scientific name bakeri was chosen to honour Richard Thomas Baker. He was a botanist who did important work studying the Eucalyptus group of plants.
Where Does Baker's Mallee Grow?
Baker's mallee grows in eastern Australia. You can find it near Yetman and Warialda in New South Wales. It also grows near Roma, Talwood, and Dalby in Queensland. There's also a small group of these trees in the White Mountains National Park.
This tree usually grows in areas with shrubs. It prefers shallow, sandy soils.
Using Baker's Mallee in Gardens
This type of eucalypt is quite tough. It can handle dry weather (drought) and light frost. It can grow in many types of soil, from regular to rich. It also doesn't mind if the soil is slightly acidic or alkaline.
People grow Baker's mallee in gardens for several reasons. It can be a good shade tree. It also attracts birds, which is great for wildlife. It can be planted as a windbreak to protect other plants. It grows at a medium speed, making it a good choice for many gardens.
