Eucalyptus distuberosa facts for kids
Eucalyptus distuberosa is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in the south-west part of Western Australia. It has smooth bark that can be dark grey, tan, or creamy white. Its leaves are shiny dark green and shaped like a spear. This tree produces white flowers and fruit that look like small cups or cones.
What it Looks Like
Eucalyptus distuberosa is a type of mallet tree. It usually grows to be about 5 to 14 meters (about 16 to 46 feet) tall. Unlike some other eucalyptus trees, it does not have a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber.
The bark on this tree is smooth. It can be dark grey, tan, or creamy white. The bark peels off in long strips. The adult leaves are shiny dark green. They are shaped like a spear, about 60 to 100 millimeters (2.4 to 3.9 inches) long. They are also about 8 to 22 millimeters (0.3 to 0.9 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a small stem called a petiole, which is about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. These groups of buds grow on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 5 to 13 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stem, called a pedicel, about 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or pear-shaped. They are about 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or look like a turban. The flowers themselves are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruit. These fruits are shaped like cups or cones. They are about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus distuberosa was officially described in 2009. This was done by a scientist named Dean Nicolle. He wrote about it in a science magazine called Nuytsia. He had collected a sample of the tree in 2000 near a place called Yellowdine.
The second part of the tree's name, distuberosa, comes from Latin words. "Dis" means "without" or "not." "Tuberosus" means "full of lumps." So, the name distuberosa means "without lumps." This refers to the fact that this tree does not have a lignotuber, which is a woody lump at the base of some eucalyptus trees.
There are two slightly different types, or subspecies, of Eucalyptus distuberosa:
- Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. aerata: This type has flower buds and fruits with noticeable ribs or ridges on them.
- Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa: This type does not have these ribs or ridges on its buds and fruits. Sometimes, you can find trees that are a mix of both types.
Where it Grows
This mallet tree mostly grows in areas called mallee. These are special types of woodlands and shrublands. You can find it mainly between Yellowdine, the Frank Hann National Park, and Norseman. These areas are in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Mallee regions of Western Australia.
The subspecies aerata is only found in one specific area. This area is called Bronzite Ridge, located between Lake Johnston and Norseman.
Protecting the Species
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of how safe different plant species are.
The subspecies Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa is considered "not threatened." This means there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently in danger.
However, the subspecies Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. aerata is classified as "Priority One." This is a special category for plants that are known from only one or a few places. These places could be at risk, meaning the plant needs special attention to make sure it stays safe and doesn't disappear.
