Ninety Mile Tank mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ninety Mile Tank mallee |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
obesa
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The Ninety Mile Tank mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus obesa) is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. This plant has smooth, greyish or light brown bark. Its leaves are usually shaped like a spear. It grows creamy white flowers in groups of eleven to fifteen buds. After flowering, it produces round or half-round fruits.
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What the Ninety Mile Tank Mallee Looks Like
The Ninety Mile Tank mallee is a type of eucalyptus tree that usually grows between 2 and 6 metres tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
Its bark is smooth and can be greyish or brownish. Sometimes, you might see loose strips of bark near the bottom of the tree. The leaves grow all the way down, making the tree look full. This is called its canopy.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have dull, greyish-green leaves. These leaves can be egg-shaped, heart-shaped, or oval. They are about 30 to 55 millimetres long and 15 to 30 millimetres wide.
Adult leaves are shiny and dark green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or oval, about 65 to 105 millimetres long and 8 to 20 millimetres wide. They connect to the branch with a stalk called a petiole, which is 7 to 22 millimetres long.
The flower buds grow in groups of eleven or thirteen. They are found where the leaves meet the stem (called the leaf axil). These buds grow on a short, unbranched stem called a peduncle, which is 3 to 10 millimetres long. The individual buds do not have their own stalks; they are attached directly, which is called being sessile.
The Ninety Mile Tank mallee flowers from December to January. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white colour.
Fruit of the Mallee
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are short and shaped like a ball or half-ball. They are about 4 to 7 millimetres long and 6 to 11 millimetres wide. These fruits are a type of capsule, which means they open to release seeds.
How the Mallee Got Its Name
Eucalyptus obesa was first officially described in 1993. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. They found the first samples of this plant near a place called Tarin Rock.
The second part of its scientific name, obesa, comes from a Latin word meaning "fat." This name was chosen because the buds of this mallee look "fat" compared to the more spindle-shaped buds of another eucalyptus, E. decipiens.
Where the Ninety Mile Tank Mallee Lives
The Ninety Mile Tank mallee grows in Western Australia. You can find it in sandy soils from north-west of Lake Grace all the way to the 90-mile Tank and Peak Charles.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Ninety Mile Tank mallee. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
