Eucalyptus laevis facts for kids

The Eucalyptus laevis is a special kind of eucalyptus tree or bush. It only grows naturally in Western Australia. This plant has rough, thin bark on its main trunk. But the bark higher up is smooth. Its grown-up leaves are long and thin, like a spear. The flowers are white and grow in groups of seven to eleven. Its fruit looks like a small barrel or cylinder.

What is Eucalyptus laevis?

The Eucalyptus laevis can grow as a mallee or a tree. A mallee is a type of eucalyptus that grows many stems from a special woody base. This base is called a lignotuber. It helps the plant regrow after fires.

This plant usually grows to be about 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) tall. Some trees can even reach 10 meters (33 feet) high. It has thin, rough bark on its trunk. Sometimes, the bigger branches also have this rough bark. But the bark higher up on the plant is smooth.

Leaves and Stems

Young Eucalyptus laevis plants have stems that are a bit square. Their leaves are a pretty bluish-grey color. These young leaves are about 65 to 90 millimeters (2.5 to 3.5 inches) long. They are also about 9 to 20 millimeters (0.3 to 0.8 inches) wide.

When the plant gets older, its leaves change. Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are long and narrow, like a spear. These leaves are usually 65 to 105 millimeters (2.5 to 4 inches) long. They are about 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stalk called a petiole. This stalk is about 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds of Eucalyptus laevis grow in groups. Each group has between seven and eleven buds. They grow on a stalk called a peduncle. This stalk is about 9 to 17 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel. These are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.

When the buds are ready, they are oval-shaped. They are about 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are also about 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap on top called an operculum. This cap can be cone-shaped or rounded.

The Eucalyptus laevis flowers are white. They have been seen blooming in January. After the flowers, the plant grows fruit. The fruit is a woody capsule. It looks like a small cylinder or barrel. These fruits are about 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long. They are about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide.

How it was named

The Eucalyptus laevis was officially named in 2001. Two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its name. They studied a plant they found near Norseman. They wrote about it in a science magazine called Nuytsia.

The second part of its name, laevis, comes from a Latin word. It means 'smooth' or 'even'. This name was chosen because of how smooth the flower buds are.

Where it grows

This special eucalyptus plant grows in Western Australia. You can find it in woodlands. Woodlands are areas with many trees, but they are not as dense as a forest. It grows in flat areas between the towns of Norseman and Balladonia. It likes to grow in heavy soil that has a lot of calcium carbonate. This type of soil is often called "calcareous loams."