Smithton peppermint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Smithton peppermint |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
nitida
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| Synonyms | |
The Smithton peppermint (scientific name: Eucalyptus nitida) is a special type of tree or shrub. It grows only in Tasmania, which means it is endemic there. This plant has bark that can be loose, stringy, or flaky. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. It produces white flowers from groups of nine to fifteen buds. After flowering, it grows fruit that looks like a cup or half a sphere.
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What the Smithton Peppermint Looks Like
The Smithton peppermint can grow as a tall tree, up to 40 meters (about 130 feet) high. It can also grow as a smaller, bushy plant called a mallee, which is usually around 5 meters (about 16 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Most Smithton peppermints have smooth bark that is cream-colored to grayish. However, older or larger trees might have rough, stringy, or flaky bark on their main trunk and bigger branches.
Leaves
Young plants and new shoots growing from the base (called coppice regrowth) have leaves that sit directly on the stem. These leaves are shaped like a spear or an oval. They are about 45 to 85 millimeters (1.8 to 3.3 inches) long and 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. They grow in pairs, one on each side of the stem, and wrap around it.
Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are shiny green on both sides. These leaves are about 55 to 130 millimeters (2.2 to 5.1 inches) long and 6 to 17 millimeters (0.2 to 0.7 inches) wide. They narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 4 to 17 millimeters (0.16 to 0.67 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of nine to fifteen. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, in areas called axils. These groups of buds grow on a short stalk called a peduncle, which is 2 to 9 millimeters (0.08 to 0.35 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, which is 1 to 6 millimeters (0.04 to 0.24 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they look like clubs. They are about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.12 to 0.20 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is called an operculum. It can be rounded or cone-shaped.
Smithton peppermint flowers are white and usually bloom from November to January. After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule, which is a dry case that holds the seeds. It can be shaped like a cup, half a sphere, or a cone. These capsules are 4 to 8 millimeters (0.16 to 0.31 inches) long and 5 to 9 millimeters (0.20 to 0.35 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are usually close to the rim of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
The Smithton peppermint was first officially described in 1856. A scientist named Joseph Dalton Hooker wrote about it in his book, The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae.
The scientific name nitida comes from the Latin word nitidus. This word means "shining," and it refers to the shiny leaves of this plant.
Where the Smithton Peppermint Lives
The Smithton peppermint is found all over northern, western, and southern Tasmania. It also grows on some islands in the Bass Strait, which is the body of water between mainland Australia and Tasmania.
You can find this plant growing in forests, from areas near the sea up to hills and plateaus. Sometimes, it grows as a smaller mallee plant in sandy areas along the coast.
