Eucalyptus bunyip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus bunyip |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
bunyip
|
The Eucalyptus bunyip is a special kind of tree. It is quite rare and only grows in a small area near Tonimbuk in Victoria, Australia. This means it is endemic to that spot, which means it's found nowhere else in the world naturally!
This tree is tall and slender. It has smooth, light-colored bark. Its leaves are glossy green and shaped like eggs or wide spearheads. When it blooms, it has white flowers. Its fruit looks like a bell.
What it Looks Like
The Eucalyptus bunyip is a slender tree that can grow very tall, sometimes up to 40 meters (about 130 feet) high. Its bark is usually smooth and can be whitish, light brown, or yellowish. However, at the very bottom of its trunk, the bark is rough and corky.
Leaves
The leaves of young Eucalyptus bunyip trees are shaped like eggs or spearheads. They are about 40 to 60 millimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) long. These young leaves grow on a stalk called a petiole. As the tree grows, its leaves change. The leaves on mature trees are wider, shaped like a broad spearhead or an egg. They can be 100 to 170 millimeters (about 4 to 6.7 inches) long. Both sides of the adult leaves are usually the same color.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of the Eucalyptus bunyip grow in groups of seven. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of flowers grows on a thin stalk called a peduncle. The individual flower buds are shaped like clubs or small diamonds. They are about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.28 to 0.35 inches) long.
This tree blooms in autumn, and its flowers are white. After the flowers, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, bell-shaped capsule. It is about 6 millimeters (0.24 inches) long and 5 millimeters (0.20 inches) wide. Each fruit hangs on a slender stalk.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus bunyip was officially named in 2012 by a scientist named Kevin James Rule. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The tree was named bunyip because it was first found and studied in the Bunyip State Park.
Where it Lives
This rare eucalypt tree grows in the valleys of Diamond and Black Snake Creeks. These creeks are located within the Bunyip State Park. It prefers these valley floors as its home.
