Kamarooka mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kamarooka mallee |
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| Eucalyptus froggattii | |
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Eucalyptus
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froggattii
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The Kamarooka mallee, also known as Eucalyptus froggattii, is a special type of tree or large shrub. It mostly grows in the Australian state of Victoria and nowhere else in the world. This plant has interesting features. Its trunk has rough, dark bark that looks crumbly. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be grey or brown. The leaves are shaped like a spear.
The Kamarooka mallee produces unique flowers and fruits. Its flower buds have four sides and grow in small groups. When they open, you'll see white or cream-coloured flowers. After the flowers, the plant grows four-sided, cup-shaped fruits.
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What Does the Kamarooka Mallee Look Like?
The Kamarooka mallee is usually a large shrub, called a mallee. It can grow up to 6 metres (about 20 feet) tall. Sometimes, it grows into a small tree, reaching up to 9 metres (about 30 feet). This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
The bark on the main trunk is rough and dark, often blackish and crumbly. Higher up on the branches, the bark is smooth. It can be grey or brown and peels off in long strips.
Leaves and Flowers of the Mallee Tree
Young Kamarooka mallee plants have shiny green leaves. These leaves are shaped like a spear and can be quite long, from 7.8 to 17.2 centimetres (about 3 to 6.8 inches). Adult leaves are also shiny and light green on both sides. They are spear-shaped and measure 6.5 to 13 centimetres (about 2.5 to 5 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. They are found at the ends of the branches. Each bud is club-shaped or diamond-shaped and has four distinct ribs. These buds are about 7 to 10 millimetres long. The flowers themselves are white or cream-coloured. They are cup-shaped and also have four sides.
How the Kamarooka Mallee Got Its Name
The Kamarooka mallee was first officially described in 1934. A scientist named William Blakely wrote about it. He used a plant sample collected near a place called Kamarooka, close to Bendigo in Victoria.
The scientific name, Eucalyptus froggattii, honours a special person. It was named after Walter Wilson Froggatt. He was an entomologist, which is a scientist who studies insects.
Where Does the Kamarooka Mallee Grow?
The Kamarooka mallee is mostly found in Victoria, Australia. It grows in small patches of woodland or shrubland. These areas are often surrounded by farmlands. You can find it between towns like Horsham, Bendigo, Charlton, and Nhill.
Some populations of this unique plant are protected. They grow in places like the Kamarooka State Park. This park is now part of the Greater Bendigo National Park. You can also find them in special plant reserves. These include the Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve and Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park.
