Curly mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curly mallee |
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| Eucalyptus gillii in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
gillii
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The Eucalyptus gillii, often called the Curly Mallee, Arkaroola Mallee, or Silver Mallee, is a unique type of mallee or small tree. It grows only in inland Australia. This plant usually has smooth bark. Sometimes, it has rough bark near its base.
Its leaves are often a cool, silvery-blue color. The Curly Mallee has flower buds that grow in groups of seven to eleven. Its flowers are a pale yellow. After flowering, it produces fruit that looks like a barrel or a short, round ball.
What is the Curly Mallee?
The Eucalyptus gillii is a type of mallee. A mallee is a special kind of eucalyptus plant. It usually has many stems growing from a large, woody base called a lignotuber. This plant typically grows up to 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even reach 8 meters (about 26 feet) like a small tree.
How Does it Look?
The Curly Mallee has smooth bark that can be white or grey. Sometimes, the bark on its trunk and lower branches is rough and flaky.
- Young Plants and New Growth: Young plants and new shoots often have greyish-blue or silvery-blue leaves. These leaves are shaped like an egg or a heart. They are about 20 to 57 millimeters (0.8 to 2.2 inches) long. They are also about 20 to 53 millimeters (0.8 to 2.1 inches) wide. These leaves attach directly to the stem without a stalk.
- Mature Leaves: The leaves on older parts of the tree can be arranged in pairs or spread out. They are often shaped like a spear, egg, or heart. These leaves are a dull green or silvery-blue. They are about 30 to 80 millimeters (1.2 to 3.1 inches) long. They are also about 12 to 35 millimeters (0.5 to 1.4 inches) wide. Some mature leaves attach directly, while others have a small stalk up to 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) long.
- Flower Buds: The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk, about 4 to 15 millimeters (0.16 to 0.6 inches) long. The individual buds have tiny stems, about 2 to 7 millimeters (0.08 to 0.28 inches) long. When the buds are ready, they look like a pear or an oval. They are about 8 to 14 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have a pointy or horn-shaped cap.
- Flowers: The Curly Mallee mainly blooms from July to November. Its flowers are a pretty pale yellow color.
- Fruit: After the flowers, the plant produces woody fruit. This fruit is often silvery-blue and shaped like a barrel or a short, round ball. It is about 4 to 9 millimeters (0.16 to 0.35 inches) long. It is also about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
How Did it Get its Name?
The Eucalyptus gillii was officially described in 1912. A scientist named Joseph Maiden wrote about it in his book, A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus.
He named it after Walter Gill. Walter Gill was the person who collected the first sample of this plant. He found it about 80 miles east of Farina, near the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. The exact spot was called Umberatana.
Where Does it Grow?
The Curly Mallee mostly grows in the northern part of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. You can find it especially between Arkaroola and Nepabunna.
It also grows in the Barrier Ranges in New South Wales, north of Broken Hill. This plant likes to grow in open mallee areas. You can find it in gullies and on rolling hills. Sometimes, it even grows in large groups all by itself.
