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Point Hood yate facts for kids

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Point Hood yate
Conservation status

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Genus:
Eucalyptus
Species:
retusa

Eucalyptus retusa, also known as the Point Hood yate, is a special type of mallee plant. It grows only in a small area of Western Australia. This plant has smooth, grey bark and shiny green leaves. Its flowers are yellowish-green and grow in groups. The fruits are unique because their bases are joined together.

About the Point Hood Yate

The Point Hood yate is a type of mallee plant. It usually grows to be about 0.5 to 4 meters (1.5 to 13 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.

Bark and Leaves

The bark of the Point Hood yate is smooth and pale grey. When new bark appears, it is a creamy color. Young plants have dull green leaves that are shaped like an egg or are almost round. These young leaves can be up to 50 mm (2 inches) long.

The adult leaves are shiny green. They are shaped like an egg or a spatula. These leaves are usually 30 to 55 mm (1.2 to 2.2 inches) long. They are also 14 to 20 mm (0.5 to 0.8 inches) wide. The leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of the Point Hood yate are yellowish-green. They grow in groups of thirteen to nineteen buds. These buds are joined together at their base. The cap covering the flower, called an operculum, is about 40 to 42 mm (1.6 inches) long.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruit. The fruits are shaped like a cone. They are 7 to 10.5 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. What makes them special is that their bases are fused together. The joined fruits can be about 30 mm (1.2 inches) across.

Naming the Point Hood Yate

The scientific name for this plant is Eucalyptus retusa. It was officially described in 2008. Three scientists, Dean Nicolle, Malcolm French, and Nathan McQuoid, first described it. They found a sample of the plant near Bremer Bay in 2004.

Meaning of the Name

The plant's description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. The second part of its scientific name, retusa, comes from a Latin word. Retusus means "blunted," "rounded," or "notched at the tip." This likely describes a feature of the plant, perhaps its leaves or fruit.

Where It Grows

The Point Hood yate is only found in one known place. This single group of plants grows near Bremer Bay in Western Australia. It lives in low scrubland on a rocky headland. A headland is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea.

Protecting This Plant

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife keeps track of rare plants. They have listed the Point Hood yate as "Priority One."

What "Priority One" Means

Being "Priority One" means that this plant is known from only one or a few locations. These locations might be at risk. This classification helps protect the plant. It ensures that efforts are made to keep this unique species safe.

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