Eucalyptus cuprea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mallee box |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
cuprea
|
Eucalyptus cuprea, commonly known as the mallee box, is a special type of mallee tree. It only grows naturally in one specific area along the west coast of Western Australia. This tree has rough, flaky bark at the bottom of its trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth and has a pretty coppery color. It also has long, narrow adult leaves, flower buds that grow in groups of seven, and creamy white flowers. After flowering, it produces fruit shaped like a cone or cup.
Contents
What the Mallee Box Looks Like
Eucalyptus cuprea is a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus tree that usually grows with multiple stems from a large underground woody base called a lignotuber. It typically reaches a height of about 2.5 to 6 meters (8 to 20 feet).
Bark and Leaves
The lower part of its trunk, up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet), has rough, flaky bark. Above this, the bark is smooth and can be copper-colored or a pale orange-grey.
Young plants and new shoots that grow after the plant has been cut or damaged (called coppice regrowth) have dull, grayish-green leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg and are about 55 to 100 millimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 30 to 60 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) wide.
Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are glossy green on both sides and measure about 80 to 135 millimeters (3 to 5 inches) long and 12 to 20 millimeters (0.5 to 0.8 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which is about 12 to 25 millimeters (0.5 to 1 inch) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 5 to 15 millimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 2 to 6 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) long.
Mature buds are oval to pear-shaped, about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have a rounded cap, called an operculum, often with a small point at the tip.
The mallee box flowers between August and November. Its flowers are white or creamy-white. The fruit is a woody, cone-shaped or cup-shaped capsule. It is about 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16 to 0.28 inches) long and 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide. The fruit sits on a pedicel that is 1 to 5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.2 inches) long. The parts that open to release the seeds (called valves) are deeply hidden inside the fruit.
Naming the Mallee Box
Eucalyptus cuprea was officially described for the first time in 1993. This was done by two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper. They found a sample of the tree north of the Murchison River in 1984.
The second part of its scientific name, cuprea, comes from a Latin word. It means "coppery." This name was chosen because of the coppery color of the tree's smooth bark during certain seasons.
Where the Mallee Box Grows
The mallee box is found in a small area in the Geraldton hills. This region is in the Mid West part of Western Australia. It grows in shallow, sandy soils that are found over granite rock. In these areas, the mallee box often grows in groups where almost all the trees are mallee box trees.
Conservation Status
The Eucalyptus cuprea is considered "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing from the wild. It is also listed as "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).
An "Interim Recovery Plan" has been created to help protect this species. This plan outlines steps to help the mallee box survive and recover. The main things that threaten the mallee box include:
- Farming activities, like sheep grazing.
- Weeds that invade its habitat.
- Clearing land for other uses.
- Maintenance of firebreaks (areas cleared to stop fires).
- Fires that happen at the wrong time or are too intense.
