Kopi mallee facts for kids

The Eucalyptus gypsophila, also known as the kopi mallee, is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It grows like a large shrub with many stems instead of one main trunk. You can find it growing naturally in parts of Western Australia and South Australia.

This plant has rough, flaky bark on the lower part of its stems. Higher up, the bark is smooth and light grey. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear. The flowers are creamy white and grow in groups of seven to eleven buds. After flowering, it produces woody, cone-shaped or cylinder-shaped fruits.

What is the Kopi Mallee?

The kopi mallee is a type of eucalyptus that usually grows to be about 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) tall. It has bark that stays on the lower part of its trunk, which feels rough. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be light grey, pinkish-grey, or even coppery cream.

When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), its leaves are slightly bluish-green. These young leaves are egg-shaped or round, about 3 to 5.5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long and 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters (1 to 1.8 inches) wide.

Adult leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are dull blue-grey to grey-green on both sides and shaped like a spear. These leaves are about 9 to 13 centimeters (3.5 to 5 inches) long and 1.8 to 2.5 centimeters (0.7 to 1 inch) wide. The base of the leaf narrows down to a stalk, called a petiole, which is about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long.

The flower buds grow where the leaves meet the stem. They usually appear in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. Each group of buds grows on a main stalk, called a peduncle, which is about 0.5 to 2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 0.2 to 0.6 centimeters (0.08 to 0.24 inches) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped, about 0.8 to 1.4 centimeters (0.3 to 0.55 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.9 centimeters (0.2 to 0.35 inches) wide. They have a cone-shaped or rounded cap, called an operculum, which often has lines spreading out from the center.

Kopi mallee flowers bloom between July and December. Their flowers are a creamy white color. After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is like a seed pod. It's shaped like a cone or cylinder, about 0.7 to 1.2 centimeters (0.28 to 0.47 inches) long and 0.7 to 1.1 centimeters (0.28 to 0.43 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are usually close to the rim of the fruit.

Naming the Kopi Mallee

The scientific name for this plant, Eucalyptus gypsophila, was officially given in 1997. It was named by a botanist named Dean Nicolle. He published its description in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its scientific name, gypsophila, comes from two ancient Greek words. Gypsos means 'gypsum', which is a type of mineral. Philos means 'loving'. So, gypsophila means 'gypsum-loving'. This name was chosen because the kopi mallee often grows on sandy dunes that contain gypsum, especially near dry lakes.

Before 1997, this species was sometimes thought to be part of another eucalyptus species called E. striaticalyx. However, E. striaticalyx grows as a tree, not a mallee shrub, so scientists realized they were different.

Where Does Kopi Mallee Grow?

The kopi mallee is found across a wide area in the Great Victoria Desert. You can see it from east of Laverton in Western Australia all the way to the western edge of the Gawler Ranges in South Australia. In most places where it grows, it prefers red sand that lies over limestone. It is often found near salt lakes or dry lake beds.