Black morrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black morrell |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
melanoxylon
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The black morrell (scientific name: Eucalyptus melanoxylon) is a special kind of tree. It is a small to medium-sized tree that grows only in Western Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has rough, cracked bark on its trunk. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flowers are white. The tree produces fruit that looks like a cone or cup.
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What the Black Morrell Looks Like
The black morrell tree usually grows to be about 4 to 24 meters (about 13 to 79 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can also grow as a mallee, which is a type of eucalyptus that has many stems growing from a large woody base underground called a lignotuber.
Its bark is hard and thick, with many cracks. This bark covers the trunk and larger branches. Sometimes, it's only on the lower part of the trunk, with smoother, white or grey bark higher up.
When the tree is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), the leaves are a dull green and shaped like a spear. They are about 4 to 7.5 centimeters (1.6 to 3 inches) long.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are long and narrow, about 7.2 to 11 centimeters (2.8 to 4.3 inches) long. These leaves grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 7 to 15 millimeters long.
The tree's flower buds grow in groups of 7 to 15. Each group is on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 8 to 15 millimeters long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 3 to 5 millimeters long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped. They are about 5 to 8 millimeters long and have a cone-shaped or rounded cap called an operculum.
Black morrell trees usually flower between November and March. Their flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a cone or a cup, about 4 to 6 millimeters long. It has parts that stick out, which are called valves.
How the Black Morrell Got Its Name
The black morrell was first officially described in 1923. A scientist named Joseph Maiden wrote about it in his book, A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus. He studied samples of the tree that were collected near a place called Westonia.
Where the Black Morrell Lives
You can find the black morrell in southern Western Australia. It grows in areas from Westonia, Bullabulling, and Lake King in the eastern wheatbelt region. It also grows as far east as Balladonia in the eastern goldfields region.
These trees like to grow in low areas and flat lands. They prefer soils that are a mix of sand, clay, and loam.
Its Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the black morrell. They have decided that this type of eucalypt is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
