Eucalyptus educta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus educta |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
educta
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Eucalyptus educta is a special type of Eucalyptus plant. It's a spreading, twisted mallee, which means it's a shrub or small tree with many stems growing from a woody base. This plant is found only in Western Australia, making it endemic to that area.
It has unique reddish-brown bark that peels in strips, called minni ritchi bark. Its leaves are usually rounded or egg-shaped. The flower buds are a pale, grayish-blue color, known as glaucous. These buds grow in groups of seven. When they open, they reveal creamy white flowers. After flowering, it produces flattened, bell-shaped fruits.
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What it Looks Like
Eucalyptus educta is a spreading, twisted mallee. It typically grows to be about 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its bark is rough and reddish-brown. It peels off in thin, curly strips, which is why it's called minni ritchi bark. The younger branches are often covered in a pale, grayish-blue waxy coating, making them look glaucous.
The adult leaves are a dull grayish-green color on both sides. They are mostly rounded or egg-shaped. The narrower end of the leaf is closer to the stem. These leaves are about 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. They have a short stalk, called a petiole, which is about 5 to 10 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the leaf axil. These groups of buds grow on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 10 to 15 millimeters long. Each individual bud has its own smaller stalk, or pedicel, about 5 to 8 millimeters long.
When the buds are mature, they are glaucous and oval-shaped. They are about 13 to 15 millimeters long and 3 to 6 millimeters wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap can be up to three times longer than the main part of the flower, called the floral cup.
Eucalyptus educta flowers in March and April. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers bloom, they turn into woody fruits. These fruits are flattened and shaped like half a sphere. They are about 5 to 6 millimeters long and 8 to 11 millimeters wide. The parts that release the seeds, called valves, stick out above the edge of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
The scientific name of a plant is very important. Eucalyptus educta was first officially described in 1992. This was done by two botanists, Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson and Ken Hill. They wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea.
They studied a plant sample collected by Ian Brooker. He found it in some hills north of Beacon, known as "The Dromedaries." The second part of the name, educta, comes from a Latin word. Eductus means "drawn out." This refers to the long, drawn-out cap (operculum) on its flower buds.
Where it Grows
This special mallee plant has a small living area, or "range." It is found in only two main groups of plants. These groups grow on hills near a place called Beacon in Western Australia. They prefer shallow soils among granite rocks.
It has been found in several natural areas of Western Australia. These areas are called biogeographic regions. They include the Coolgardie, Murchison, Swan Coastal Plain and Yalgoo regions.
Protecting This Plant
The Eucalyptus educta is important to protect. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a special status. It is classified as "Priority Two."
This means that we don't know a lot about this plant. It is found in only one or a few locations. Because it's so rare and not well-known, it needs special attention to make sure it stays safe and doesn't disappear.
