Eucalyptus rosacea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus rosacea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
rosacea
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The Eucalyptus rosacea is a special kind of eucalyptus tree. It only grows in Western Australia. This tree has smooth, grey bark. Its leaves are long and thin. The flowers can be pink, red, or cream. They grow in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces flat, saucer-shaped fruits.
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What it Looks Like
The Eucalyptus rosacea is a type of mallee tree. It usually grows up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. This tree has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and grey. It peels off in long strips. When the old bark comes off, you can see new bark that is pink or yellowish.
Leaves
Young Eucalyptus rosacea plants have dull, greyish leaves. These leaves are long and thin. They are about 3.5 to 8 centimeters (1.4 to 3.1 inches) long. They are also about 2 to 4 millimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide.
Older trees have different leaves. These adult leaves grow one after another along the stem. They are dull greyish to bluish-green on both sides. They are long and narrow, about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long. They are 5 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a small stem called a petiole, which is 4 to 10 millimeters long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of buds is on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own small stem, called a pedicel, about 7 to 10 millimeters long.
The mature buds are oval-shaped. They are about 11 to 17 millimeters long and 6 to 7 millimeters wide. They have a pointy, horn-like cap called an operculum. This cap is 9 to 15 millimeters long.
Eucalyptus rosacea flowers bloom from November to February. Their flowers can be white, pink, or even deep red. After the flowers, the tree produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule. It is flat and shaped like a saucer. It is about 3 to 5 millimeters long and 6 to 12 millimeters wide. The parts that open to release seeds are usually even with the rim of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
Eucalyptus rosacea was first officially described in 1992. This was done by two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill. They wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. They found the plant near Queen Victoria Spring in 1986.
The name rosacea comes from a Latin word. It means "like the flower of a single rose." This name was chosen because the flowers and even the bark of this eucalyptus are often pink.
Where it Lives
This mallee tree grows in low, open shrublands. It prefers yellow or red sandy soils. You can find it east of Laverton and Queen Victoria Spring. It grows all the way to the edge of the Great Victoria Desert.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife says this eucalyptus is "not threatened." This means there are enough of these trees, and they are not in danger of disappearing.
