Eucalyptus filiformis facts for kids

Eucalyptus filiformis is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows as a shrub with many stems. It is found naturally in only one small area in Victoria, Australia. This area is on the side of a mountain. This plant has rough, stringy bark on its main stem. Higher up, the bark is smooth. Its adult leaves are long and narrow. The flowers are white and grow in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces fruit shaped like a small barrel.

What Eucalyptus filiformis Looks Like

Eucalyptus filiformis is a mallee. This means it is a type of eucalyptus that usually grows as a shrub. It has many stems coming from the ground. It can grow up to 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall.

Bark and Leaves

The lower part of its main stem has rough, stringy bark. This bark is light grey and can also be flaky. Higher up on the plant, the bark is smooth.

Young plants have leaves that are almost sessile. This means they attach directly to the stem without a stalk. These young leaves are long and narrow, like a line. They are bluish and can be up to 100 millimeters (4 inches) long. They are about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide.

Adult leaves have a petiole, which is a small stalk. They are shaped like a narrow spear or a narrow oval. These leaves are usually 50 to 80 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. They are about 7 to 11 millimeters (0.28 to 0.43 inches) wide.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds grow where the leaves meet the stem. They usually appear in groups of seven. Sometimes there can be up to eleven buds in a group. These buds sit on a small stalk called a peduncle, which can be up to 8 millimeters long.

When the buds are ready, they are oval or spindle-shaped. They are about 8 millimeters long and 4 millimeters wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap protects the flower inside.

Eucalyptus filiformis flowers in the late autumn. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a woody capsule. It is shaped like a cylinder or a small barrel. The fruit can be up to 9 millimeters long and 5 millimeters wide. The parts that open to release seeds are below the rim of the fruit.

How Eucalyptus filiformis Got Its Name

Naming and Discovery

Eucalyptus filiformis was officially described in 2004. A scientist named Kevin Rule gave it its formal name. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. Kevin Rule found the first plant specimen on the southern side of Mt. Jeffcott. This mountain is near a town called Charlton.

Meaning of the Name

The second part of its scientific name, filiformis, comes from Latin words. "Filum" means "thread," and "forma" means "shape." This name was chosen because the young leaves of this plant are very narrow, like a thread.

Where Eucalyptus filiformis Grows

This special mallee plant grows in shallow red soils. It is only found on private land. This land is on the southern side of Mt. Jeffcott in Victoria, Australia. It is a very rare plant because it grows in such a small, specific area.