Eucalyptus fruticosa facts for kids
Eucalyptus fruticosa is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in Western Australia. It's often called a mallee because it usually has many stems growing from the ground. This plant has rough, stringy bark on its main trunk and bigger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and light brown. Its leaves are long and thin, and its flowers are white or cream-colored. After flowering, it produces small, barrel-shaped fruits.
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus fruticosa |
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| Eucalyptus fruticosa near Learmonth | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
fruticosa
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What it Looks Like
Eucalyptus fruticosa is a sprawling mallee or a shrub. It typically grows between 1.5 and 5 meters (about 5 to 16 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after fires.
Its bark is rough and fibrous, like strings, on the main trunk. Sometimes, this rough bark goes up to the larger branches. Higher up, the bark is smooth and light brown. It often peels off in long strips.
Young plants have heart-shaped to oval leaves. These leaves are 12 to 60 millimeters (about 0.5 to 2.4 inches) long and 8 to 15 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. They look a bit bluish-green at first.
Adult leaves are long and thin, or narrow oval-shaped. They are glossy green on both sides. These leaves are 30 to 80 millimeters (about 1.2 to 3.1 inches) long and 7 to 17 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.7 inches) wide. They grow on a small stem called a petiole, which can be up to 13 millimeters (about 0.5 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, called the leaf axil. Each group of buds sits on a stem called a peduncle, which is 4 to 10 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.4 inches) long. The individual buds are on even smaller stems called pedicels, 1 to 3 millimeters (about 0.04 to 0.12 inches) long.
Mature buds are oval to spindle-shaped. They are 7 to 10 millimeters (about 0.28 to 0.4 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. They have a cone-shaped or beaked cap called an operculum.
This plant flowers between January and May. Its flowers are white to cream-colored. The fruit is a woody, barrel-shaped or shortened spherical capsule. It is 4 to 8 millimeters (about 0.16 to 0.3 inches) long and 5 to 6 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are near the rim.
Its Name and History
Eucalyptus fruticosa was first officially described in 1979. This was done by a botanist named Ian Brooker. He wrote about it in a science journal called Brunonia. He found the first plant he described about 103 miles (166 kilometers) south of Exmouth.
The second part of its scientific name, fruticosa, comes from a Latin word. It means "shrubby." This refers to how this plant often grows like a shrub.
Where it Grows
This mallee grows in red sandy soils. You can find it on sand plains, sand dunes, and chalky hills. It lives in open shrubland areas. These areas are along the coast of Western Australia. They stretch from south of Exmouth Gulf to south of Shark Bay.
Is it Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at this eucalypt. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
