Octopus mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Octopus mallee |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
sinuosa
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The octopus mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus sinuosa) is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It grows only in Western Australia. This plant has smooth bark and long, thin leaves. Its flower buds grow in groups, and its flowers are yellowish-green. The fruits grow together into a hard, woody lump.
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What the Octopus Mallee Looks Like
The Eucalyptus sinuosa is a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows like a shrub with many stems from the ground. It usually grows up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. This plant also has a special woody swelling underground called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and can be cream, grey, or orange-brown. It peels off in strips and ribbons. The leaves are long and thin, like lines. They are shiny green on both sides. Each leaf is about 50 to 75 millimeters (2 to 3 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The bottom of the leaf narrows down to a small stalk called a petiole.
The flower buds grow in groups of 11 to 25. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem, called the axil. The buds are attached to a long stalk, or peduncle, which can be 45 to 100 millimeters (about 1.8 to 4 inches) long. When the flowers bloom, this stalk points downwards.
Only the top part of each bud is free. It has a long, winding cap called an operculum with a small bump at its end. The octopus mallee flowers between December and April. Its flowers are a pretty yellow-green color. After flowering, the fruits grow together into a hard, woody mass. This mass can be 25 to 75 millimeters (1 to 3 inches) across.
How the Octopus Mallee Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus sinuosa was officially named in 2008. Three botanists, Dean Nicolle, Malcolm French, and Nathan McQuoid, described it in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The name E. petila was used for this plant before, but it wasn't a proper scientific name. This is because no Latin description was published for it. The second part of its scientific name, sinuosa, comes from a Latin word. Sinuosus means "full of bends" or "winding." This refers to the long, bendy cap of the mature flower buds.
Where the Octopus Mallee Lives
The octopus mallee grows in about six different areas along the south coast of Western Australia. You can find it between towns like Ongerup and Jerramungup. It also grows near the lower West River in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
Even though these groups of plants are spread out, the octopus mallee is often very common where it does grow. It can even be the main type of plant in those areas.
Protecting the Octopus Mallee
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given the octopus mallee a "Priority Two" conservation status. This means we don't know much about this plant. It is found in only a few places. Because it's not widespread, it's important to protect these areas to help the octopus mallee survive and thrive.
