Eucalyptus melanophitra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus melanophitra |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
melanophitra
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The Eucalyptus melanophitra, also known as the black-butt gum, is a special type of mallet tree. It only grows in a small part of Western Australia. This tree has rough, flaky grey bark on its trunk and smooth grey bark higher up. It has narrow, spear-shaped leaves, pale yellow flowers, and fruit shaped like a cylinder or barrel.
What it Looks Like
Eucalyptus melanophitra is a mallet tree that usually grows to be about 4 to 7 meters tall. Unlike some other eucalypts, it does not have a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This tree has rough, flaky grey bark on its lower trunk. Higher up, the bark is smooth and greyish.
Its adult leaves are narrow and shaped like a spear. They are about 5.5 to 9.5 centimeters long and 0.9 to 1.5 centimeters wide. These leaves grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 0.5 to 1.3 centimeters long.
The flower buds grow in groups of nine or eleven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.7 to 1.5 centimeters long. Each individual bud sits on a tiny stalk called a pedicel, about 0.3 centimeters long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are shaped like a spindle, about 1.3 to 1.5 centimeters long and 0.3 centimeters wide. They have a cone-shaped cap, called an operculum, which is about twice as long as the base of the flower.
This tree blooms between February and April, showing off its pale yellow flowers. After flowering, it produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cylinder or a barrel, about 0.6 to 0.7 centimeters long and 0.4 to 0.5 centimeters wide. The parts that open to release seeds are almost level with the rim of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus melanophitra was officially described for the first time in 1991. This was done by two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The name melanophitra comes from ancient Greek words. Melano means "dark" or "black," and phitros means "bole" or "trunk." So, the name refers to the tree's dark or black lower trunk. Even though the word for "black" in ancient Greek is actually melas, the name was chosen to describe its unique dark bark.
Where it Grows
You can find this special eucalypt growing in small areas near the Pallinup River and the Corackerup Nature Reserve. It prefers to grow on stony hillsides where the soil is very thin, often over a type of rock called laterite.
Is it in Danger?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has listed Eucalyptus melanophitra as "Priority Four". This means it is considered rare or close to being threatened. It needs to be watched carefully to make sure its numbers stay healthy.
