Alexander River mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander River mallee |
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| Eucalyptus micranthera near Scaddan | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
micranthera
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The Alexander River mallee, also called the milkshake mallee, is a special type of eucalyptus tree. Its scientific name is Eucalyptus micranthera. This tree only grows in a small part of Western Australia, near the south coast. It has smooth bark and long, thin leaves. Its creamy white flowers grow in groups, and its fruit looks like a small, round cap.
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What Does the Alexander River Mallee Look Like?
The Alexander River mallee is a type of eucalyptus that usually grows like a bush or small tree. It can be from about 0.6 to 6 meters tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of this mallee is smooth. It can be light grey, pinkish-grey, or yellow-grey. The bark peels off in long, thin strips.
Young plants have grey-green to light green leaves. These leaves are shaped like a spear, up to 90 millimeters long and 15 millimeters wide. Adult leaves are glossy green to grey-green. They are also spear-shaped, but longer, from 57 to 120 millimeters long and 8 to 25 millimeters wide.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine. They are found on a short stem called a peduncle, which is 2 to 10 millimeters long. The individual buds are either directly attached or have very short stalks (up to 2 millimeters long).
Mature buds are oval-shaped, about 7 to 10 millimeters long and 4 to 7 millimeters wide. They have a cone-shaped or rounded cap called an operculum. The flowers are creamy white and often smell like bananas! They usually bloom between March and November.
After flowering, the plant produces woody fruit. These fruits are shaped like a half-sphere, about 6 to 10 millimeters long and 7 to 10 millimeters wide. The seed-holding parts are close to the rim of the fruit.
Where Does the Alexander River Mallee Grow?
The Alexander River mallee is found along the south coast of Western Australia. It grows in areas like the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions. You can find it from Nyabing in the west to Cape Arid National Park in the east. It prefers flat or gently rolling areas. It grows well in sandy soils that are often found over or near a hard, reddish soil layer called laterite.
Is This Tree Endangered?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife says that the Alexander River mallee is "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
How Was This Tree Named?
The Alexander River mallee was first officially described by a botanist named George Bentham in 1867. He wrote about it in a book called Flora Australiensis. The plants he studied were collected by George Maxwell near Israelite Bay.
The scientific name Eucalyptus micranthera has a special meaning. The word micranthera comes from two Greek words:
- micro- means "little" or "small."
- anthera refers to the anther, which is the part of a flower that holds pollen.
So, the name describes the small anthers of this eucalyptus species.
