Wandoo mallee facts for kids

The Eucalyptus livida, often called wandoo mallee, is a type of mallee or small tree. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. This plant has smooth bark and leaves shaped like a spear. Its flowers are creamy white, and its fruit looks like a small barrel.

What the Wandoo Mallee Looks Like

The wandoo mallee is a small tree or a mallee. It usually grows to be about 3 to 10 metres (10 to 33 ft) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.

Its bark is smooth and can be greyish or orange. The leaves of an adult tree are shaped like a spear. They are about 70–115 mm (2.8–4.5 in) long and 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) wide. These leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long.

The flower buds grow in groups of eleven or more. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a stem called a peduncle, which is 8–18 mm (0.31–0.71 in) long. The individual buds have tiny stalks called pedicels, about 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are shaped like a spindle. They are 9–15 mm (0.35–0.59 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide. The flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a barrel and is about 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. It has parts called valves that are level with the rim.

How it Got its Name

The Eucalyptus livida was first officially described in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, gave it its name. They studied a plant that Brooker collected near Peak Charles National Park in 1988.

Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. The second part of its scientific name, livida, comes from a Latin word. It means "bluish" or "lead-coloured". This name refers to the bluish color of the tree's top part, called the crown.

Where the Wandoo Mallee Lives

The wandoo mallee grows in areas with rocky ground that is breaking down. It prefers sandy-loamy soils that are found over granite or ironstone rocks.

You can find this plant in the central and southern goldfields of Western Australia. It is especially common between the towns of Coolgardie, Norseman, Peak Charles, and Hatters Hill. In some of these places, the wandoo mallee is the most common plant.

Conservation Status

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife checks on plants and animals. They have classified this eucalypt as "not threatened". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.