Eucalyptus obconica facts for kids

The Eucalyptus obconica is a type of small tree. It can also be a mallee, which is a shrubby tree with many stems from the ground. This plant is found only in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

It has rough, wavy bark on its trunk and branches. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. The tree produces white flowers and cone-shaped fruit.

What it Looks Like

Eucalyptus obconica is a tree or a mallee. It usually grows to be about 2.5 to 10 meters (8 to 33 feet) tall.

Bark and Leaves

Its bark is rough and can be fibrous or flaky. It often looks wavy or like a mosaic pattern. Young plants have dull, light green leaves. These leaves are broadly spear-shaped. They can be up to 130 millimeters (5 inches) long and 35 millimeters (1.4 inches) wide. They also have a small stalk, called a petiole.

Adult leaves are a dull green or bluish color on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, curved, or oblong. These leaves are 60 to 155 millimeters (2.4 to 6.1 inches) long. They are also 5 to 20 millimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) wide. Each adult leaf has a petiole that is 5 to 20 millimeters long.

Flowers and Fruit

The flower buds usually grow in groups of seven. They are found at the end of the branches. Each group of buds is on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is 2 to 8 millimeters long. The individual buds have very short stalks or no stalks at all.

Mature buds are oval-shaped. They are about 4 to 5 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. Each bud has a rounded or cone-shaped cap called an operculum. The flowers are white and bloom between March and May.

The fruit of the Eucalyptus obconica is a woody, cone-shaped capsule. This capsule is like a seed pod. It is 2 to 4 millimeters long and 3 to 5 millimeters wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are near the rim of the fruit.

Naming the Tree

Eucalyptus obconica was first officially described in 1994. This was done by Ian Brooker and David Kleinig. They wrote about it in their book, Field guide to eucalypts.

The second part of its name, obconica, comes from a Latin word. It means "obconical," which describes the shape of the fruit. This means the fruit is shaped like a cone, but it is wider at the top.

Where it Grows

This eucalyptus species is found in the central and eastern Kimberley region. It grows on rocky hillsides in different scattered spots.

It prefers thin soil over sandstone or quartzite rock. You can often find it forming large groups of only this type of tree. These groups grow on rocky plateaus.

Conservation Status

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at this eucalypt. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.