Eucalyptus rowleyi facts for kids

Eucalyptus rowleyi is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in the Pilbara area of Western Australia. It's known for its smooth grey bark and white flowers. This plant is a "mallee," which means it's a type of eucalyptus that usually grows as a shrub with many stems coming from the ground, rather than a single tall trunk. It is found nowhere else in the world.

Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus rowleyi
Conservation status
Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	E. rowleyi
Binomial name
Eucalyptus rowleyi Nicolle & M.E.French
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What is Eucalyptus rowleyi?

Eucalyptus rowleyi is a mallee that usually grows to be about 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This lignotuber helps the plant regrow after fires or damage.

Its Bark and Leaves

The bark of this eucalyptus is smooth and grey. It can also look tan or cream-coloured when it's new. Young plants and new shoots have dull, bluish-green leaves. These leaves are egg-shaped and can be up to 100 mm (4 inches) long and 60 mm (2.4 inches) wide.

As the plant gets older, its adult leaves change. They become lance-shaped, which means they are long and narrow, like a spearhead. These adult leaves are usually between 80 and 145 mm (3 to 5.7 inches) long and 25 to 45 mm (1 to 1.8 inches) wide.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Eucalyptus rowleyi grow in groups of seven or nine. These groups are held on a thick stalk called a peduncle, which is about 5 to 22 mm (0.2 to 0.9 inches) long. Each individual flower has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, which is 2 to 6 mm (0.08 to 0.24 inches) long.

Before they open, the flower buds look like clubs. They are 3 to 5 mm (0.12 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap called an operculum, which is 2 to 4 mm (0.08 to 0.16 inches) long. When the flowers bloom, they are white. After flowering, the plant produces fruit that are shaped like cylinders or urns. These fruits are 6 to 10 mm (0.24 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.

How it Got its Name

Eucalyptus rowleyi was officially named in 2012. Two scientists, Dean Nicolle and Malcolm E. French, described it for the first time. They used plant samples that were collected near Newman way back in 1983.

The plant's special name, rowleyi, was chosen to honor Bruce Rowley. He is an expert at traveling through deserts. Bruce Rowley was the first person to find this type of eucalyptus in the Little Sandy Desert.

Where it Grows

This mallee eucalyptus usually grows on wide, flat areas that sometimes flood. It can also be found in open areas with other mallee plants. Eucalyptus rowleyi is only found in a specific part of Western Australia. This area is between Marble Bar, Newman, and the Rudall River National Park. These places are in the Little Sandy Desert and Pilbara regions.

Protecting This Plant

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has a list of plants that need special attention. Eucalyptus rowleyi is on this list as "Priority Three".

This means that we don't know a lot about this plant yet. It's only found in a few places. However, it's not currently in immediate danger of disappearing. Scientists and conservationists keep an eye on plants like Eucalyptus rowleyi to make sure they stay safe for the future.