Eucalyptus latisinensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White mahogany |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
latisinensis
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The White Mahogany (scientific name: Eucalyptus latisinensis) is a type of tree. It grows naturally only in Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area.
This tree has rough, stringy bark. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. It produces white flowers from buds that grow in small groups. The fruit of the white mahogany is round or half-round.
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What the White Mahogany Looks Like
The White Mahogany is a tree that usually grows up to 18 m (59 ft) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it's damaged, for example, by fire.
Its bark covers the trunk and even the smaller branches. It feels rough and is made of fine fibers, often looking stringy. The bark is usually grey or grey-brown.
Leaves
Young White Mahogany plants have broad, spear-shaped or egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are directly attached to the stem, meaning they are sessile. They can be 50–150 mm (2.0–5.9 in) long and 30–70 mm (1.2–2.8 in) wide.
The leaves on older, adult trees are arranged alternately along the branches. They are the same shade of green on both sides, either slightly shiny or dull. These leaves feel coarse and are shaped like a spear or are curved. They are typically 60–160 mm (2.4–6.3 in) long and 10–40 mm (0.39–1.57 in) wide. Each leaf narrows down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 10–22 mm (0.39–0.87 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds of the White Mahogany grow in groups of seven to eleven or more. They appear where the leaves meet the stem or at the ends of small branches. These groups of buds are on a single stalk called a peduncle, which is 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, a pedicel, about 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped, about 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. They have a cap, known as an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or pointed like a beak.
White Mahogany trees have been seen flowering in August. Their flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces a woody fruit called a capsule. This fruit is shaped like a shortened sphere or a half-sphere. It is 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) wide. The parts that open to release seeds (called valves) are usually level with or stick out slightly from the rim of the fruit.
How the White Mahogany Got Its Name
The White Mahogany, Eucalyptus latisinensis, was officially described in 1999. A botanist named Kenneth Hill first studied a sample of the tree near Lowmead, Queensland in 1996. He published his findings in a science journal called Telopea.
The second part of its scientific name, latisinensis, tells us something about the tree. It comes from Latin words:
- latus means "broad" or "wide".
- sinus means "a bay".
- The ending ensis means "from a place".
So, latisinensis refers to the tree's natural home near Wide Bay in Queensland.
Part of a Tree Group
Eucalyptus latisinensis belongs to a group of trees that Ken Hill called the "white mahogany group." Other trees in this group include:
Conservation Status
The Queensland Government has a list of how safe different plants and animals are. The White Mahogany is listed as "least concern" under their Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means it is not currently considered to be at risk of disappearing.
