Fine-leaved mallee facts for kids

The fine-leaved mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus perangusta) is a special type of mallee tree. It only grows in a small part of the south coast of Western Australia. This plant has smooth bark, shiny green leaves that are long and thin, and pretty creamy white flowers. Its fruit looks like a small, round barrel.

What Does the Fine-leaved Mallee Look Like?

The fine-leaved mallee is a type of tree that usually grows up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. It has a special woody base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after things like bushfires.

Its bark is smooth and pale grey. It peels off in thin, curly pieces. Young plants and new shoots have dull green leaves. These leaves are about 10 to 35 millimeters long and 10 to 30 millimeters wide. They are also more or less attached directly to the stem.

Adult leaves are arranged one after another. They are shiny green on both sides and look long and thin. These leaves are usually 40 to 80 millimeters long and 2 to 5 millimeters wide. They grow on a small stalk called a petiole, which is 2 to 10 millimeters long.

The flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, called a leaf axil. These buds grow on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 2 to 10 millimeters long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, or pedicel, 1 to 4 millimeters long.

When the buds are ready, they are oval or spindle-shaped. They are 5 to 9 millimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. They have a cone-shaped or beaked cap called an operculum. The fine-leaved mallee flowers between December and March. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. After flowering, the plant produces a woody, short, barrel-shaped fruit. This fruit is a capsule, about 4 to 6 millimeters long and wide.

How the Fine-leaved Mallee Got Its Name

The scientific name Eucalyptus perangusta was first officially written down in 1988. This was done by a scientist named Ian Brooker. He published his description in a science journal called Nuytsia. The plant was found near "Oldfield's Road, east of the Young River crossing" in 1983.

The second part of its name, perangusta, comes from Latin. It means "very narrow". This name likely refers to the plant's very thin leaves.

Where the Fine-leaved Mallee Lives

The fine-leaved mallee grows in areas with heath plants. It likes sandy soil, especially if there is gravel or clay underneath. These areas are often gently rolling sandplains.

You can find this plant in several special natural areas in Western Australia. These include the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee biogeographic regions. It grows in the region between the towns of Ravensthorpe, Newdegate, and Salmon Gums.

Is the Fine-leaved Mallee Safe?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the fine-leaved mallee. They have classified it as "not threatened". This means that there are enough of these plants, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing.