Eucalyptus planipes facts for kids

The Eucalyptus planipes is a special type of mallee tree that grows only in Western Australia. It's known for its smooth bark, long, thin adult leaves, and unique flower buds that grow in groups of three. When its flowers are done, they turn into cone-shaped fruits.

What Does Eucalyptus planipes Look Like?

This Eucalyptus is a mallee, which means it's a type of tree that usually has many stems growing from the ground. It can grow to be about 3 to 8 meters (10 to 26 feet) tall. Its bark is very smooth and can be white or a light grey color.

Leaves and Flowers

• Young leaves: When the plant is young, its leaves are a greyish-green color. They are shaped like a wide spear, growing up to 70 millimeters (2.8 inches) long and 25 millimeters (1 inch) wide.
• Adult leaves: As the plant gets older, its leaves become shiny and bright green. They are shaped like a spear or slightly curved, measuring between 50 and 140 millimeters (2 to 5.5 inches) long and 8 to 30 millimeters (0.3 to 1.2 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a somewhat flat stalk called a petiole, which is about 9 to 25 millimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
• Flower buds: The flower buds grow in groups of three where the leaves meet the stem (this spot is called an axil). Each group of buds grows on a flat stalk, about 8 to 16 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. The individual buds also have their own flat stalks, which are 2 to 12 millimeters (0.08 to 0.5 inches) long.
• Mature buds: When the buds are ready to open, they look like a pear or a club. They are about 11 to 16 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long and 9 to 13 millimeters (0.35 to 0.5 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is shaped like a cone or a limpet shell and has ribs. It's less than half the length of the main part of the flower, called the floral cup.

Fruit

After the flowers bloom, they turn into a woody, cone-shaped fruit. This fruit is also ribbed and measures about 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 8 to 14 millimeters (0.3 to 0.55 inches) wide. Inside, the parts that release the seeds (called valves) are close to the rim of the fruit.

How Was Eucalyptus planipes Named?

The Eucalyptus planipes was officially named and described in 2001. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its formal name. They wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. The plant they studied was collected near a town called Coolgardie in 1983.

Where Does Eucalyptus planipes Grow?

You can find this mallee tree growing in Western Australia. It likes to live on small hills, sandy plains, and in open woodlands. Its main area is south and west of Kalgoorlie, stretching from Norseman to the west of Coolgardie. It prefers to grow in shallow, lime-rich soils that are found over a type of rock called dolerite.

Is Eucalyptus planipes Endangered?

Good news! The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the Eucalyptus planipes. They have decided that it is "not threatened," which means there are enough of these trees, and they are not in danger of disappearing.