Eucalyptus hawkeri facts for kids

The Eucalyptus hawkeri is a special kind of mallee or thin tree. It grows only in Victoria, Australia. This tree has rough bark near the bottom of its trunk. Higher up, the bark is smooth. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are a bit curved. The tree produces white flowers from buds that grow in groups of seven to eleven. After flowering, it grows fruit that looks like a cylinder or a small barrel.

What the Eucalyptus hawkeri Looks Like

The Eucalyptus hawkeri is usually a mallee or a slender tree. It can grow up to 15 m (49 ft) tall. The bark on the lower part of its trunk is rough, scaly, or stringy. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be light grey to brownish.

Leaves of the Eucalyptus hawkeri

• Young leaves: When the plant is young, its leaves are dull bluish-green. They are shaped like a spear or a narrow oval. These leaves are 60–120 mm (2.4–4.7 in) long and 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) wide. They grow on a small stem called a petiole, which is 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) long.
• Adult leaves: Older leaves are shaped like a spear, but sometimes they are a bit curved. They are 70–120 mm (2.8–4.7 in) long and 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) wide. Their petioles are 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) long.

Flowers and Fruit of the Eucalyptus hawkeri

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 stalk called a peduncle, which is 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stem, or pedicel, about 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long.

Mature buds are oval or spindle-shaped. They are 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is shaped like a cone. It is about half as long as the base of the flower. This tree blooms in autumn, and its flowers are white.

After the flowers, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a woody capsule that looks like a cylinder or a small barrel. It is 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are below the rim of the fruit.

How it was Named

The Eucalyptus hawkeri was officially described in 2004. This was done by a scientist named Kevin Rule. He found a sample of the tree on Mount Arapiles. The description was then published in a science journal called Muelleria.

The tree was named hawkeri to honor Peter Hawker. He was a park ranger who helped scientists learn a lot about this special tree.

Where the Eucalyptus hawkeri Lives

This mallee tree is only found in the area around Mount Arapiles in Victoria, Australia. It also grows in nearby nature reserves. It lives in the remaining patches of natural woodland there.