Eucalyptus infracorticata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus infracorticata |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
infracorticata
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The Eucalyptus infracorticata is a special type of eucalyptus tree found only in a small part of Western Australia. It has rough, flaky bark on the lower part of its trunk. This tree also has wide, spear-shaped leaves, flower buds that grow in small groups, and short, cylinder-shaped fruits.
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What Does Eucalyptus infracorticata Look Like?
Eucalyptus infracorticata is a kind of mallee. This means it's a type of eucalyptus tree that usually has many stems growing from a woody base at ground level.
Bark and Leaves
The lower part of its trunk has rough, pale grey bark. This bark can be fibrous or flaky. The adult leaves are a dull green color. They are wide and shaped like a spear or an oval. These leaves are about 6 to 11 centimeters (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long. They are also about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1 inch) wide. Each leaf has a stem called a petiole that is about 1.5 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long.
Flower Buds and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. These groups of buds are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud sits on a smaller stalk called a pedicel, about 0.2 to 0.5 centimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) long.
When the buds are ready, they look like pears. They are about 0.9 to 1 centimeter (0.35 to 0.4 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.6 centimeters (0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is shaped like half a sphere. It is shorter than the base of the flower, which is called the floral cup.
After the flowers, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, cylinder-shaped capsule. It is about 0.7 to 0.9 centimeters (0.28 to 0.35 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.6 centimeters (0.2 to 0.24 inches) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are almost level with the rim of the fruit.
How Eucalyptus infracorticata Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus infracorticata was officially described in 2001. Two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its scientific name. They studied a plant sample found near Queen Victoria Spring, close to Cundeelee. Their description was published in a science journal called Telopea.
The name infracorticata comes from Latin words. "Infra" means "below," and "corticatus" means "covered with bark." This name describes the rough bark found on the lower part of the tree's trunk.
Where Eucalyptus infracorticata Lives
This eucalyptus tree grows in open mallee shrubland. It prefers sandy soil that has some loam (a mix of sand, silt, and clay). So far, this plant has only been found in the area where the first sample was collected.
