Ramel's mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramel's mallee |
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| Immature specimen in Kings Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
rameliana
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus pyriformis var. rameliana (F.Muell.) Maiden |
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Eucalyptus rameliana, commonly known as Ramel's mallee, is a special type of small tree or shrub. It grows low to the ground and is only found in the desert areas of central Western Australia. This plant has smooth bark and unique leaves. It also produces pale yellow flowers and interesting pyramid-shaped fruits.
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What Ramel's Mallee Looks Like
Ramel's mallee is a type of plant called a mallee. It usually grows to be about 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after a fire.
Its bark is smooth and can be greyish or brown. The adult leaves are a dull green color on both sides. They are shaped like an egg or a wide spear. These leaves are about 5 to 11 centimeters (2 to 4.3 inches) long and 2.3 to 5 centimeters (0.9 to 2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stem called a petiole that is 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow one by one where the leaves meet the stem. Sometimes, they appear in groups of three. These buds hang downwards on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 0.7 to 1.7 centimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long. Each individual bud has a smaller stalk called a pedicel, about 0.5 to 1.2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long.
When the buds are ready, they are oval or round. They measure about 2.5 to 3.7 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) long and 1.5 to 2.7 centimeters (0.6 to 1.1 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, can be cone-shaped or rounded with a small beak.
Ramel's mallee mostly flowers from May to June. The flowers are usually pale yellow, but sometimes they can be red. After flowering, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a flattened pyramid. It is about 1.2 to 1.7 centimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long and 2.3 to 3.5 centimeters (0.9 to 1.4 inches) wide. The parts that open to release seeds, called valves, stick out a little. The seeds inside are grey-brown and also pyramid-shaped, about 0.25 to 0.45 centimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
How Ramel's Mallee Got Its Name
The plant Eucalyptus rameliana was first officially described in 1876. This means it was formally named and written about by a scientist. The botanist Ferdinand von Mueller described it in his book, Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.
The species was named after Prospero Ramel. He was a person who helped bring different types of Eucalyptus trees to Algeria and southern France.
Where Ramel's Mallee Grows
Ramel's mallee is only found in a specific area of Australia. It grows in the Little Sandy Desert, which is south-east of a town called Newman. You can find it growing on sand dunes and in the low, flat areas between dunes, known as swales.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Ramel's mallee. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that currently, there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
