Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snow gum |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
E. p. subsp. acerina
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| Trinomial name | |
| Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina Rule
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The Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina, often called snow gum, is a special type of tree or shrub. It grows only in a small part of Victoria, Australia. This snow gum has smooth, shiny bark. Its leaves are glossy green and shaped like spears or eggs. It produces white flowers from buds that grow in groups. After flowering, it forms round or cone-shaped fruits. This particular snow gum is different from other types because it has a thick, full top (crown) and no parts that look dull or waxy.
About the Snow Gum
Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina is a type of plant that can grow as a small tree or a shrub. It usually reaches about 12 meters (almost 40 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow if it gets damaged, like from a fire.
The bark of this snow gum is very smooth and shiny. It can be white, cream, grey, or green. The bark peels off in long strips, which looks quite cool!
Leaves and Flowers
Young snow gum plants have dull, bluish-green leaves. These leaves are shaped like eggs or ellipses and are about 3 to 8 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) long. They have small stems called petioles.
As the plant grows older, its leaves change. Adult leaves are shiny and can be shaped like eggs, spears, or ellipses. They are usually 5.5 to 12.5 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long. These leaves also have petioles, which are about 1 to 2 centimeters (less than an inch) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of nine to fifteen. They appear where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds sits on a short stalk, and each individual bud has a tiny stem. The mature buds are oval or pear-shaped, about 5 millimeters long. They have a rounded cap on top.
This snow gum has been seen flowering in January. Its flowers are white and stand out against the green leaves.
Fruits
After the flowers bloom, they turn into woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like half-spheres or cones. They are about 5 to 6 millimeters long and 5 to 10 millimeters wide. Inside, they hold the seeds.
This specific type of snow gum is special because its crown (the leafy top part) is very dense. Also, unlike some other snow gums, no part of this plant looks dull or waxy.
Naming the Snow Gum
The Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina was officially named in 1994. It was described by a scientist named Kevin James Rule. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria.
The name "acerina" comes from a Latin word. It means that the adult plants do not have a waxy coating on their surfaces. This helps scientists tell it apart from other similar plants.
Where the Snow Gum Lives
This special snow gum subspecies is found in only a couple of places. It grows on the Baw Baw plateau in Victoria, Australia. It is also found on a nearby mountain called Mount Useful. These areas are part of the Baw Baw National Park. This means it's a very unique plant that only grows in these specific spots!
