Eucalyptus paralimnetica facts for kids
Eucalyptus paralimnetica is a type of small tree. It grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. This tree has smooth, pinkish-grey bark. Its leaves are long and narrow. The flowers grow in groups of seven, and its fruit looks like a small cone.
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus paralimnetica |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
paralimnetica
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Contents
About This Eucalyptus Tree
The Eucalyptus paralimnetica is a tree that usually grows up to 10 m (33 ft) (about 33 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow after a fire.
The bark of this tree is smooth and has a pale pinkish-grey color. Young plants and new shoots growing from the base (called coppice regrowth) have egg-shaped leaves at first. Later, these leaves become long and narrow.
Adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the stem. They are long and narrow, like a spear, and have a shiny green color. These leaves are about 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) (2-4 inches) long and 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) (0.2-0.4 inches) wide. They grow on a slightly grooved stalk called a petiole, which is about 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) (0.4-0.6 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the leaf axil. These groups of buds are on a short stalk called a peduncle, which is about 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) (0.2-0.3 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) (0.04-0.16 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped. They are about 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) (0.24-0.28 inches) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) (0.12 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower like a cap, is called an operculum. It is cone-shaped and ribbed, and it's about the same length as the base of the flower (the floral cup).
After the flowers, the tree produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped capsule. It is about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) (0.16-0.2 inches) long and wide.
How This Tree Was Discovered
The Eucalyptus paralimnetica was first officially described in 2001. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. They used plant samples collected in 1986 near Peak Charles National Park.
Where This Tree Grows
This type of eucalyptus tree grows in woodlands. You can often find it at the edges of salt pans. Its natural home stretches from near Peak Charles all the way to the Fraser Range in Western Australia.
