Mount Lesueur mallee facts for kids
Eucalyptus suberea, also known as the Mount Lesueur mallee or cork mallee, is a special type of small tree or bush. It is found only in a small area on the west coast of Western Australia. This plant has rough bark on its lower trunk and smooth white bark higher up. Its leaves are shaped like a spear, and its white flowers grow in groups of eleven to twenty or more. After flowering, it produces round, woody fruits.
Quick facts for kids Mount Lesueur mallee |
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| Eucalyptus suberea near Badgingarra | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
suberea
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Mount Lesueur mallee is a small tree or a type of bush that usually grows to be about 3–6 m (9.8–19.7 ft) tall. It has a special woody lump at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark on the lower part of the trunk is rough and corky, or it can be flaky and grey to brownish. Higher up, the bark is smooth and white, sometimes even powdery.
Young plants and new shoots have bluish-green leaves that are shaped like a spear. These leaves are about 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide. Adult leaves are a slightly shiny green on both sides. They are also spear-shaped, about 55–100 mm (2.2–3.9 in) long and 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) wide. They narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups in the leaf axils. Each group is on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long. The individual buds are on smaller stalks called pedicels, about 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long.
Mature buds are oval-shaped, 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long and about 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. They have a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. This plant has been seen flowering in September, and its flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, round capsule that is 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) wide.
Its Name and Discovery
The Eucalyptus suberea was officially named in 1986 by two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper. They wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. Ian Brooker had collected samples of the plant near Badgingarra in 1983.
The name suberea comes from a Latin word, subereus. This word describes the rough, corky bark found on older plants of this species.
Where It Lives
The Mount Lesueur mallee grows on rocky slopes in open mallee woodlands. It is found among dense heath plants. You can find it from near Mount Lesueur all the way to Badgingarra in Western Australia.
Protecting the Plant
This special eucalypt is considered "vulnerable" by the Australian Government. This means it is at risk of becoming extinct if we don't protect it. It is also listed as "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia).
The biggest danger to the Mount Lesueur mallee is wildfires that happen too often or at the wrong time. These fires can prevent the plant from growing and reproducing properly.
