Eucalyptus kumarlensis facts for kids

The Eucalyptus kumarlensis is a special kind of tree found only in a small part of Western Australia. It's known for its smooth bark, long, thin leaves, and creamy white flowers that grow in small groups. This tree also produces interesting cup-shaped fruits.

What Does the Kumarl Mallee Look Like?

The Eucalyptus kumarlensis is usually a tree, but sometimes it grows as a mallee. A mallee is a type of eucalyptus that has many stems growing from the ground instead of just one trunk. This tree typically reaches a height of about 6 to 10 meters (around 20 to 33 feet).

Its bark is very smooth and can be pink, orange, and white, making it quite colorful. When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), its leaves are a dull grayish-green. These young leaves are usually 30 to 75 millimeters (about 1 to 3 inches) long and 3 to 6 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.

The adult leaves are a shiny green. They are longer, about 60 to 110 millimeters (2.4 to 4.3 inches) long, and a bit wider, 4 to 10 millimeters (0.16 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 4 to 12 millimeters (0.16 to 0.47 inches) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds of the Eucalyptus kumarlensis grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a short stalk called a peduncle, which is 4 to 10 millimeters (0.16 to 0.4 inches) long. The individual flower buds also have tiny stalks called pedicels, about 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or diamond-shaped, about 6 to 8 millimeters (0.24 to 0.31 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap-like lid called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or have a small beak. This lid protects the flower inside before it blooms.

This eucalyptus tree has been seen flowering in February, and its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule, which means it's a dry fruit that opens to release seeds. The fruit can be cup-shaped, cone-shaped, or half-sphere shaped. It's about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.2 inches) long and 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds (called valves) are usually close to the edge of the fruit.

How Was It Named?

The Eucalyptus kumarlensis was officially described for the first time in 1988 by a scientist named Ian Brooker. He studied a sample of the tree that was collected west of the Coolgardie–Esperance Highway on the road to Lake King. His description was then published in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of the tree's scientific name, kumarlensis, tells us where it comes from. It refers to the Kumarl district, which is the area where this specific type of eucalyptus tree is found.

Where Does the Kumarl Mallee Grow?

This special eucalyptus tree grows in sandy soil and also in a type of rich, chalky soil called calcareous loam. You can find it between the towns of Kumarl and Lake Dundas, which are located northwest of Salmon Gums in Western Australia.

Is It Endangered?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked into the status of Eucalyptus kumarlensis. They have officially stated that this species is "not threatened," which means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.