Northern silver mallee facts for kids

The Northern Silver Mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus opimiflora) is a special type of mallee tree. It only grows in certain areas near the coast of Western Australia, between the cities of Perth and Geraldton. This plant is known for its smooth grey bark, long, narrow adult leaves, and creamy white flowers.

What Does the Northern Silver Mallee Look Like?

The Northern Silver Mallee is a type of mallee plant. This means it's a shrub or small tree that usually has many stems growing from a woody base called a lignotuber. It can grow up to 7 m (23 ft) (about 23 feet) tall.

Bark and Leaves

The bark of this mallee is smooth and comes in shades of grey and cream. When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base, its leaves are a dull green or slightly bluish. These young leaves are oval-shaped, up to 35 mm (1.4 in) (about 1.4 inches) long and 25 mm (0.98 in) (about 1 inch) wide. As the plant gets older, its leaves become lance-shaped (like the tip of a spear). These adult leaves are usually 60–110 mm (2.4–4.3 in) (about 2.4 to 4.3 inches) long and 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) (about 0.6 to 1 inch) wide.

Flowers and Fruit

The Northern Silver Mallee's flower buds grow in groups of seven to fifteen. These groups are found on a slightly flattened stem called a peduncle, which is about 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual flower bud sits on a smaller stem called a pedicel, about 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) (0.08 to 0.2 inches) long.

When the buds are ready to open, they are cream-coloured and about 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. They have a cone-shaped cap, called an operculum, which is much longer than the base of the flower. The flowers themselves are a beautiful creamy white. After the flowers bloom, they turn into fruit that are shaped like a cone or half-sphere. These fruits are about 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide.

How Was the Northern Silver Mallee Named?

The Northern Silver Mallee, Eucalyptus opimiflora, was officially described for the first time in 2012. Two scientists, Dean Nicolle and Malcolm E. French, found a sample of this plant near Badgingarra in 2000. They then wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia.

The second part of its scientific name, opimiflora, comes from Latin words. "Opimi" means "rich" or "fruitful," and "flora" means "flowered." So, the name basically means "rich-flowered" or "fruitful-flowered."

Where Does the Northern Silver Mallee Grow?

This mallee usually grows on slopes that have a type of soil called laterite. It often grows in areas with low heath plants. You can find it in coastal regions of Western Australia, stretching from south of Geraldton all the way to near Cunderdin. It lives in several different natural areas, including the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, and Swan Coastal Plain.

Is the Northern Silver Mallee Endangered?

Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eucalyptus opimiflora as "not threatened." This means that, for now, there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.