Eucalyptus histophylla facts for kids
Eucalyptus histophylla is a special type of mallee or small tree. It grows only in southern Western Australia. This plant has smooth bark and leaves shaped like narrow spears. Its flowers are white and its fruit look like small barrels.
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus histophylla |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
histophylla
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Eucalyptus histophylla is usually a mallee, which means it's a shrubby tree with many stems from the ground. Sometimes it grows into a small tree. It can reach about 2 to 6 meters (6 to 20 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and often grey or pale brown. You might see ribbons of bark hanging from it. Young plants have oblong or spear-shaped leaves. These leaves are up to 11 mm long and 4 mm wide.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The adult leaves are narrow and spear-shaped. They are green on both sides. These leaves are about 65 to 125 mm long and 6 to 16 mm wide. They grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is 8 to 18 mm long.
The flower buds grow in groups where the leaves meet the stem. These groups are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 8 to 20 mm long. Each individual bud is on a smaller stalk called a pedicel, about 2 to 4 mm long.
Mature buds are long and thin, like spindles. They are 20 to 30 mm long and about 4 mm wide. They have a horn-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap is two or three times longer than the flower cup.
This eucalypt flowers in December and January. Its flowers are pale yellow. The fruit is a woody, cylindrical, or barrel-shaped capsule. It is 8 to 11 mm long and 5 to 7 mm wide. The parts that open to release seeds are near the rim.
How It Was Named
Discovering Eucalyptus histophylla
Eucalyptus histophylla was first officially described in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, named it. They found a sample of the plant between Balladonia and Norseman.
The description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant's specific name, histophylla, comes from ancient Greek words. Histos means 'upright', and phyllon means 'leaf'. This name refers to how the leaves stand upright on the plant.
Where It Grows
Habitat and Location
This eucalypt prefers to grow in sandy-loam soils. You can often find it near granite rock outcrops or in a type of soil called laterite. It grows in an area between the Fraser Range and Balladonia in Western Australia.
Sometimes, it can be found in areas further south. These regions include the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Mallee, and Nullarbor Plain. These are all different natural areas in Australia.
Protecting This Plant
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eucalyptus histophylla as "Priority Three". This means we don't know a lot about this plant yet. It's only found in a few places.
However, it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists keep an eye on these plants to make sure they stay safe.
