Eucalyptus quaerenda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus quaerenda |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
quaerenda
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Eucalyptus quaerenda is a special type of mallee tree. It only grows in the southwest part of Western Australia. This plant often looks like a rounded bush with leaves that reach the ground. It has smooth bark, long thin adult leaves, and its flowers are a creamy white color.
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What Does Eucalyptus quaerenda Look Like?
Eucalyptus quaerenda is a mallee. This means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows like a shrub with many stems from the ground. It usually grows to be about 1 to 4 meters (3 to 13 feet) tall. It also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
This mallee often has a rounded shape. Its leaves grow all the way down to the ground. Young plants and new shoots have leaves that are about 45 to 80 millimeters long. These leaves are duller green near the ground.
The adult leaves are the same shade of green on both sides. They are long and thin, about 55 to 90 millimeters long. They have a short stalk called a petiole that connects them to the stem.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds grows on a short stalk called a peduncle. The individual buds are oval-shaped and have a rounded cap, called an operculum.
This plant has creamy white flowers. They have been seen blooming in September. After the flowers, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a shallow cup or a flattened ball. They are about 2 to 5 millimeters long.
How Did It Get Its Name?
This mallee was first officially described in 1992. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it a scientific name. They found a sample of the plant near Lake Chinocup in 1986.
They first named it Eucalyptus angustissima subspecies quaerenda. This was published in a science journal called Telopea. Later, in 2004, another botanist named Margaret Mary Byrne changed its status. She decided it was different enough to be its own species. So, she renamed it E. quaerenda. This change was accepted by plant experts in Australia.
Where Does It Grow?
This special mallee usually grows on sandhills and flat areas. You can find it near places like Lake Chinocup, Lake Altham, and Lake King. It also grows near the upper parts of the Phillips River.
These areas are part of different natural regions in Western Australia. These regions include the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, and Mallee areas.
Protecting This Plant
Eucalyptus quaerenda is quite rare. It is only known to exist in fewer than five different places. Because of this, the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has given it a special status.
It is classified as "Priority Three". This means that not much is known about the plant, and it's only found in a few spots. However, it is not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. Still, it's important to protect these areas to keep the plant safe.
