Eucalyptus luculenta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus luculenta |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
luculenta
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The Eucalyptus luculenta is a special type of eucalypt tree. It's often called a "mallee" because it grows with many stems from the ground. This plant is found only in a small part of Western Australia, near the south coast. It has smooth bark, leaves shaped like spears or eggs, and its flowers are pale yellow or white. Later, it grows fruit that looks like a cup, barrel, or cylinder.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Eucalyptus luculenta is a mallee tree. It usually grows up to 5 m (16 ft) (about 16 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow if there's a fire.
Its bark is smooth and can be greyish or pink. It might even look a bit powdery!
- Young Plants: The stems of young plants are often square-shaped. Their leaves are wide and shaped like a spear. These leaves are "sessile," meaning they attach directly to the stem without a stalk. They are about 60–150 mm (2.4–5.9 in) (2.4-5.9 inches) long and 25–45 mm (0.98–1.77 in) (1-1.8 inches) wide.
- Adult Leaves: The leaves on older plants grow one after another along the stem. They are a dull greyish-green on both sides. These leaves are shaped like a spear or an egg. They measure about 60–160 mm (2.4–6.3 in) (2.4-6.3 inches) long and 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) (0.6-1.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is about 14–40 mm (0.55–1.57 in) (0.6-1.6 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) (0.3-0.6 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) (0.2-0.4 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval or pear-shaped. They are about 14–19 mm (0.55–0.75 in) (0.6-0.7 inches) long and 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) (0.2-0.4 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which looks like a beak. This cap protects the flower inside.
Eucalyptus luculenta flowers in October and November. Its flowers are pale yellow or white.
After flowering, the plant produces woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is like a seed pod. It can be shaped like a cup, a barrel, or a cylinder. The parts that release the seeds stick out above the rim of the fruit. The fruit has a waxy coating, but if you look underneath, it's very shiny!
How It Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus luculenta was first officially described in 1999. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its scientific name. They found a sample of the plant in 1983 between the Balladonia Roadhouse and Mount Ragged.
Their description was published in a science journal called Telopea. The second part of its scientific name, luculenta, comes from a Latin word. It means "full of light" or "bright." This name was chosen because the fruit of the plant is very glossy and shiny underneath its waxy coating.
Where Does It Live?
This special eucalypt tree is only found in the Mount Ragged area of Western Australia. It grows in sandy soils that contain a lot of lime (calcium).
Is It Protected?
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of plants like Eucalyptus luculenta. They have classified it as "Priority Two".
This means that the plant is not very well known. It has only been found in one or a few places. Because it's rare and found in such a small area, it needs to be watched and protected.
