Eucalyptus foliosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus foliosa |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
foliosa
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Eucalyptus foliosa is a special type of eucalypt tree found only in Western Australia. It's often called a "mallee" because it grows with many stems from the ground, like a bush. This plant has a thick, leafy top that reaches all the way down to the ground. Its bark is smooth and grey.
It is only known from a small area near the town of Esperance.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
This special eucalypt, Eucalyptus foliosa, is a type of mallee. It usually grows to be about 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) tall. It also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
The tree has a very thick top, called a crown, with shiny green leaves. These leaves often reach all the way to the ground. Its bark is smooth and grey, sometimes with brownish spots. You might even see it hanging in long strips.
The adult leaves are long and narrow, like a spear or a thin rectangle. They are about 4.5 to 7.5 centimeters (1.8 to 3 inches) long. They are also about 0.5 to 1.1 centimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a short stalk, called a petiole, which is about 3 to 8 millimeters long.
The flowers of Eucalyptus foliosa grow in small groups. You'll find seven or nine flower buds together in the axil (the spot where a leaf joins the stem). These groups of buds grow on a short stalk called a peduncle. Each individual bud also has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel.
When the buds are ready, they look like an egg sitting in an egg cup. They are about 5 millimeters long and 4 millimeters wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is rounded. The flowers themselves are white.
After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a cone or a flattened half-sphere. It's about 4 to 5 millimeters long and 6 to 7 millimeters wide. This fruit is a type of capsule, which holds the seeds.
How it Got its Name
The plant Eucalyptus foliosa was first officially described in 1992. Two botanists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, wrote about it. They published their description in a science journal called Telopea. They found the first plant specimen north of Esperance.
The second part of its scientific name, foliosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "leafy." This name was chosen because this eucalypt has such a dense and full crown of leaves.
Where Does it Live?
This mallee plant grows in sandy clay soils. It prefers flat areas that are next to salt lakes. It has a very small natural home range. You can only find it near Esperance in Western Australia.
This area is part of the Esperance Plains and Mallee regions. These regions are special areas defined by their unique plants and animals.
Protecting This Plant
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like this. They have classified Eucalyptus foliosa as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
