Eucalyptus subangusta facts for kids

Eucalyptus subangusta is a special type of tree or large shrub that grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It is known for its smooth bark and long, narrow leaves. This plant produces white flowers and interesting cup-shaped fruits. Depending on its type, it can grow as a "mallee" (a shrub with many stems) or a "mallet" (a small tree).

What it Looks Like

Eucalyptus subangusta can be a tree, a mallee, or a mallet. It usually grows to be about 2 to 9 meters (6 to 30 feet) tall. Its bark is smooth and can be grey, brownish, or pink.

When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), its leaves are a dull green. These young leaves are about 5 to 9.5 centimeters (2 to 3.7 inches) long and 1.5 to 4 centimeters (0.6 to 1.6 inches) wide.

Adult leaves are a dull green to greyish color on both sides. They are shaped like a narrow spearhead, about 4.5 to 12 centimeters (1.8 to 4.7 inches) long and 0.6 to 1.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.7 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole, which is about 0.5 to 1.8 centimeters (0.2 to 0.7 inches) long.

The flower buds grow in groups of nine to seventeen. They appear where the leaves meet the stem (the axil). These groups of buds are on a short stalk, called a peduncle, which is about 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud has a tiny stem, called a pedicel, about 0.1 to 0.3 centimeters (0.04 to 0.12 inches) long.

When the buds are ready, they are shaped like a spindle or a cylinder. They are about 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 0.2 to 0.4 centimeters (0.08 to 0.16 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, which covers the flower, is called an operculum. It can be narrow and cone-shaped or oblong.

This plant can flower in most months of the year, and its flowers are white. After flowering, it produces a woody fruit called a capsule. This fruit is shaped like a cup or a barrel, about 0.4 to 0.6 centimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long and wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are usually near the rim of the fruit.

How it was Named

The Eucalyptus subangusta was first officially described in 1934 by a scientist named William Blakely. He wrote about it in his book, A Key to the Eucalypts. He studied samples collected by William Vincent Fitzgerald near a place called Cunderdin.

Later, in 1991, two other scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, decided that this plant was important enough to be its own species. They published their findings in a science journal called Nuytsia.

In the same publication, Brooker and Hopper also identified four different types, or subspecies, of Eucalyptus subangusta. These subspecies are slightly different from each other. The names of these subspecies are officially accepted:

• Eucalyptus subangusta subsp. cerina: This type has young plants with a powdery, bluish-white look (called glaucous). Its small branches are white and waxy, and its operculum (the cap on the flower bud) is longer and more cone-shaped.
• Eucalyptus subangusta subsp. pusilla: This type is sometimes a mallet (a small tree). It has dull green leaves and the smallest buds and fruits of all the subspecies.
• Eucalyptus subangusta subsp. subangusta: This is the most common type and grows as a mallee (a multi-stemmed shrub). Its small branches are not waxy, and its leaves are dull green. Its buds and fruits are relatively large.
• Eucalyptus subangusta subsp. virescens: This type has shiny, light green leaves.

Where it Grows

Each subspecies of Eucalyptus subangusta grows in slightly different places in Western Australia:

• Subspecies cerina grows in open woodlands, mallee areas, and shrublands. You can find it in the eastern part of the central wheatbelt region, from Yelbeni to east of Southern Cross.
• Subspecies pusilla prefers fine, stony soils in the northern wheatbelt. It grows between Wongan Hills, Mullewa, and Paynes Find.
• Subspecies subangusta is the most common and widespread type. It grows on sandy plains and hills, usually in yellow or red sand. It can be found in the central and northern wheatbelts, from north of Kalbarri to south-east of Norseman.
• Subspecies virescens is only found in a few scattered spots in the eastern part of the central wheatbelt, between Manmanning and Watheroo.

How it is Protected

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife checks on the health of plants. This Eucalyptus species and three of its subspecies are considered "not threatened." This means there are enough of them, and they are not in danger of disappearing.

However, subspecies virescens is listed as "Priority Three." This means we don't know much about it, and it's only found in a few places. While it's not in immediate danger, it's important to keep an eye on it to make sure it stays safe.