Oldfield's mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oldfield's mallee |
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| Eucalyptus oldfieldii in the Die Hardy Range | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
oldfieldii
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Eucalyptus oldfieldii, often called Oldfield's mallee, is a type of mallee or tree. It grows only in Western Australia. This plant usually spreads out, has smooth bark, and produces white flowers.
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What is Oldfield's Mallee?
Oldfield's mallee is a shrub or small tree that typically grows between 2 and 6 meters (about 6 to 20 feet) 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 Oldfield's mallee is smooth and can be mottled grey or brownish. Sometimes, you might see strips of bark still hanging near the bottom.
Young plants have dull grey-green leaves that are shaped like a broad spear or an egg. These leaves are about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long. Older, or "adult," leaves are also dull green to grey-green. They are spear-shaped, about 6 to 11.5 centimeters (2.5 to 4.5 inches) long, and have a stalk called a petiole.
Flowers and Fruit
The flowers of Oldfield's mallee are white or creamy white. They grow in groups of three in the leaf axils (the spot where a leaf joins the stem). Each group of flowers grows on a small stalk called a peduncle. The flower buds are round or oval-shaped and have a rounded cap, or operculum, with a small beak.
This plant usually flowers between May and October. After the flowers, it produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cone or a cup, about 5 to 12 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Inside the fruit are small, pyramid-shaped seeds.
How Oldfield's Mallee Got Its Name
The plant Eucalyptus oldfieldii was first officially described by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller in 1860. He wrote about it in a book called Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
The name oldfieldii was chosen to honor Augustus Frederick Oldfield. He was the person who collected the very first sample of this plant. He found it near the Murchison River.
Where Does Oldfield's Mallee Grow?
Oldfield's mallee is found in Western Australia. It grows in sandy plains and on rocky slopes. You can find it north and north-east of Perth. Its range extends up to areas near Shark Bay and Warburton. It prefers rocky, loamy soils that are often found over ironstone.
Is Oldfield's Mallee Endangered?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the status of Oldfield's mallee. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means there are plenty of these plants, and they are not currently at risk of disappearing.
