Eucalyptus famelica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus famelica |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
famelica
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The Eucalyptus famelica is a special type of eucalyptus tree that only grows in Western Australia. It has smooth bark that is grey and light brown. Sometimes, older trees might have a bit of rough bark near the bottom. Its leaves are shaped like a spear, and its flower buds grow in groups of seven. When it blooms, it has creamy white flowers. After the flowers, it grows fruit that looks like a cup or a cylinder.
What It Looks Like
Eucalyptus famelica is a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows with many stems from the ground. It usually reaches a height of 1.5 to 4 meters (about 5 to 13 feet). This plant often has a thick top that goes all the way down to the ground. It also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
The bark of this eucalyptus is smooth and can be grey or a light pinkish-brown. On bigger plants, the lower part of the trunk might have some thin, rough bark.
Young plants and new shoots have stems that are somewhat square. Their leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg, about 45 to 75 mm (1.8 to 3 inches) long and 15 to 30 mm (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide.
The leaves on adult plants are shaped like a spear. They are shiny green on both sides, measuring 45 to 110 mm (1.8 to 4.3 inches) long and 9 to 23 mm (0.4 to 0.9 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is 10 to 25 mm (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven where the leaves meet the stem. These groups are on a flat stalk called a peduncle, which is 6 to 13 mm (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Each individual bud either sits directly on the stalk or has a very short stem (up to 4 mm long).
When the buds are ready, they are shaped like a cylinder or a spindle. They are 9 to 17 mm (0.4 to 0.7 inches) long and 4 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum.
This eucalyptus blooms between April and July. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After flowering, the plant produces woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that looks like a cup or a cylinder. It is 8 to 12 mm (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 7 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds are below the rim of the fruit.
How It Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus famelica was officially named in 1989. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, described it for the first time. They found a sample of the plant near a place called Starvation Boat Harbour. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The plant's specific name, famelica, comes from a Latin word. This word means "hungry." It's a clever way to refer to the place where the first sample was found, which was "Starvation Boat Harbour."
Where It Grows
This special mallee mostly grows in areas that get wet during winter. It likes sandy plains that have gentle hills. So far, it has only been found in a few spots. These locations are between the towns of Ravensthorpe and Esperance in Western Australia.
Protecting This Plant
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given Eucalyptus famelica a special status. It is classified as "Priority Three."
What does "Priority Three" mean? It means that we don't know a lot about this plant yet. It's only found in a few places. However, it's not in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists are still keeping an eye on it to make sure it stays safe.
