Grampians peppermint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grampians peppermint |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
falciformis
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus willisii subsp. falciformis Newnham, Ladiges & Whiffin |
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The Grampians peppermint, also known as Eucalyptus falciformis, is a special type of tree. You might also hear it called the western peppermint. It grows only in certain parts of southeastern Australia. This tree has smooth bark, but sometimes it has rough, stringy bark near the bottom. Its leaves are long and narrow, or sometimes curved. It grows white flowers in groups, and its fruit looks like a small cup.
What Does the Grampians Peppermint Look Like?
The Grampians peppermint is usually a tree. It can grow to be about 5 to 14 meters (16 to 46 feet) tall. Sometimes, it grows as a mallee. A mallee is a type of eucalyptus that has many stems growing from the ground.
This tree has smooth bark. It is usually pale grey or cream-colored. Near the bottom of the tree, the bark can be rough and grey. It might look stringy or like plates.
Young plants have dull bluish-green leaves. These leaves are usually opposite each other. They are about 8 to 17 centimeters (3 to 7 inches) long. They can be 1.5 to 7 centimeters (0.6 to 2.8 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are arranged one after another along the stem. These leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. They are about 7.5 to 18 centimeters (3 to 7 inches) long. They are 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stalk called a petiole.
The flowers grow in groups of eleven to twenty-one. These groups grow from where the leaves meet the stem. Each group has a short stalk. The flower buds are oval or club-shaped. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters long. They are also 3 to 4 millimeters wide.
The flowers are white. They usually bloom between September and December. After flowering, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is woody and shaped like a cup. It is about 5 to 8 millimeters long and wide.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Grampians peppermint was first officially described in 1986. Three scientists, M.R. Newnham, Pauline Ladiges, and Trevor Whiffin, gave it a scientific name. They called it Eucalyptus willisii subspecies falciformis. They published their description in a science journal called the Australian Journal of Botany.
Later, in 2008, another scientist named Kevin Rule changed its status. He decided it was a full species on its own. So, he renamed it Eucalyptus falciformis.
The name falciformis comes from a Latin word. It means "sickle-shaped." This refers to the curved shape of the young leaves. The earlier name, willisii, was chosen to honor a botanist named James Hamlyn Willis.
Where Does It Grow?
This eucalyptus tree grows in sandy soils. You can find it in woodlands that have lots of heath plants. In Victoria, Australia, it grows near the coast. It is found between Anglesea and the border with South Australia. It also grows in the Grampians National Park.
You can also find it in similar places in the far southeast of South Australia. It grows near towns like Millicent and Naracoorte.
