Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. hedraia 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. hedraia
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| Trinomial name | |
| Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. hedraia Rule
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The Snow Gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. hedraia) is a special type of mallee or small tree. It only grows in a tiny part of Victoria, Australia, which means it's endemic there. This tree has smooth bark and shiny green leaves. Its branches often look a bit frosty or bluish-white, which is called glaucous. The Snow Gum produces white flowers from buds that grow in groups of 11 to 15. After flowering, it forms round or cup-shaped fruits. What makes this Snow Gum different from other kinds of Eucalyptus pauciflora are its larger, bluish-white buds that sit directly on the stem, and its wider, rounder fruits.
What the Snow Gum Looks Like
The Snow Gum is a mallee or a small tree. It usually grows up to 10 m (33 ft) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and can be white, grey, pale brown, or green. You might often see insect scribbles on it. Young plants and new shoots have dull bluish-green leaves. These leaves are egg-shaped to round, about 45–120 mm (1.8–4.7 in) long and 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) wide. They also have a stalk, called a petiole.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are broadly lance-shaped, egg-shaped, or elliptical. These leaves are typically 55–155 mm (2.2–6.1 in) long and 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) wide. Their stalks are about 10–32 mm (0.39–1.26 in) long.
The flower buds grow in the leaf axils, which are the angles where the leaf meets the stem. They appear in groups of 11 to 15. These groups are on an unbranched stalk, called a peduncle, which is up to 7 mm (0.28 in) long. The individual buds usually sit directly on the stalk (meaning they are sessile). Sometimes, they have very short stalks, called pedicels, up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval to club-shaped. They measure 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which is conical or rounded. Snow Gums have been seen flowering in December and January, and their flowers are white.
After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are broadly hemispherical or cup-shaped, about 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide. The parts that open to release seeds, called valves, are usually close to the rim of the fruit. This specific type of Snow Gum, subspecies hedraia, is special because its flower buds are glaucous (bluish-white) and its fruits are wider and more hemispherical than other types.
How it was Named
The Snow Gum, Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. hedraia, was officially described in 1994. This description was made by a scientist named Kevin James Rule. He wrote about it in a science journal called Muelleria. The plant material he used to describe it was collected in 1982 near the Falls Creek Ski Village.
The second part of its scientific name, hedraia (which is called the epithet), comes from ancient Greek. It refers to how the buds and fruits sit directly on the stem without their own stalks.
Where the Snow Gum Lives
This particular type of Snow Gum is only found in one small area. It grows around the Falls Creek Ski Village in Victoria, Australia.
