Shark Bay mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shark Bay mallee |
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| Eucalyptus roycei in Kings Park | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
roycei
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The Eucalyptus roycei, also known as Shark Bay mallee, is a special type of mallee or a small tree. It only grows in a small part of Western Australia, near the Gascoyne coast. This plant has rough, stringy bark on its lower trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth and grey. It has long, curved adult leaves. Its flowers are cream-coloured or pale yellow. The fruit looks like a cylinder or barrel and has four sides.
Contents
What is Shark Bay Mallee?
Eucalyptus roycei is a mallee or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 2 to 6 meters (6.5 to 20 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires. The bark at the bottom is rough and greyish. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be grey or cream-coloured.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants have egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 60 to 125 mm (2.4 to 4.9 inches) long and 30 to 60 mm (1.2 to 2.4 inches) wide. Adult leaves are a dull greyish-green on both sides. They are lance-shaped or curved, about 65 to 140 mm (2.6 to 5.5 inches) long and 18 to 30 mm (0.7 to 1.2 inches) wide. These leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 10 to 30 mm (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, called the axil. These groups of buds grow on a stem called a peduncle, which is 9 to 28 mm (0.4 to 1.1 inches) long. Each individual bud has a small stalk called a pedicel, about 2 to 6 mm (0.08 to 0.24 inches) long.
Mature buds are shaped like cylinders or ovals. They are 14 to 21 mm (0.6 to 0.8 inches) long and 8 to 11 mm (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped or rounded cap called an operculum. It also has a four-sided base called a floral cup.
Flowering and Fruit
The Shark Bay mallee flowers between January and March. Its flowers are white, cream-coloured, or pale yellow. After flowering, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, four-sided capsule. It is shaped like a cylinder or a barrel and is 15 to 30 mm (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long. The parts that open to release seeds, called valves, are below the rim of the fruit.
How Shark Bay Mallee Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus roycei was first officially described in 1970. This was done by three scientists: Maisie Carr, Denis Carr, and Alex George. They published their description in a scientific paper called Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria.
The first plant used to describe the species is called the type specimen. It was collected near Hamelin Pool in 1966. Eleanor Marion Scrymgeour and Maisie Carr collected it. The second part of the plant's scientific name, roycei, honors Robert Dunlop Royce. He worked at the Western Australian Herbarium, a place where plant samples are kept.
Where Shark Bay Mallee Grows
The Shark Bay mallee is found in sandy areas in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. It mostly grows around Shark Bay. It prefers red, sandy soils that contain lime. This mallee is part of a special plant group called the tree heath community. This community is found where two different plant regions meet in Shark Bay.
Neighboring Plants
Other plants that often grow near the Shark Bay mallee include:
Growing Shark Bay Mallee
This plant grows quickly. It can handle strong winds, dry weather (drought), and cold temperatures (frost). It grows best in sunny spots with soil that drains water well. Even though it's not considered a very beautiful tree, you can buy it. People often use it in natural bush areas or parks.
