Ornamental silver mallet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ornamental silver mallet |
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| Eucalyptus ornata near Narrembeen | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
ornata
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The Eucalyptus ornata, also known as the silver mallet or ornamental silver mallet, is a special type of tree found only in Western Australia. It's called a "mallet" because of its shape. This tree has smooth, grey bark and leaves that look like spearheads. Its flowers are creamy white, and its fruit is shaped like a broad cone or half a sphere.
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What Does the Silver Mallet Look Like?
The Eucalyptus ornata is a tree that usually grows to be about 6 to 10 metres (20 to 33 feet) tall. Unlike some other eucalyptus trees, it doesn't have a special woody lump at its base called a lignotuber.
When the plant is young or regrowing after being cut, its leaves are egg-shaped to oval. They are about 35 to 60 mm (1.4 to 2.4 inches) long and 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 inches) wide.
Older leaves are shiny and dark green on both sides. They are longer, about 70 to 120 mm (2.8 to 4.7 inches), and narrower, about 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) wide. These leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 10 to 25 mm (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of nine or eleven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. These buds hang downwards on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 10 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 7 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are long and oval-shaped, with clear ridges. They measure about 15 to 20 mm (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 6 to 9 mm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is shaped like a narrow cone. The flowers themselves are a lovely creamy white colour.
After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are broadly conical or half-sphere shaped, about 5 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 10 to 70 mm (0.4 to 2.8 inches) wide. They have parts that stick out, but these parts are quite delicate.
How the Silver Mallet Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus ornata was officially described for the first time in 1985. This was done by a scientist named Michael Crisp. He published his findings in a science journal called Nuytsia. The information came from plants collected by Joan Taylor and Peter Ollerenshaw near a place called Kondinin in 1983.
The second part of its scientific name, ornata, comes from a Latin word. Ornatus means "handsome" or "showy," which describes this beautiful tree well!
Where Does the Silver Mallet Grow?
The silver mallet tree grows in woodlands. You can find it on low hills and ridges, mainly to the east and north-east of Kondinin in Western Australia.
Is the Silver Mallet Protected?
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this eucalyptus a "Priority Three" status. This means that while we don't know a lot about it, and it's only found in a few places, it's not in immediate danger of disappearing. It's important to keep an eye on these special plants to make sure they stay safe!
See also
- List of Eucalyptus species
