Eucalyptus tortilis facts for kids

Eucalyptus tortilis is a special kind of tree found only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's often called a "mallet" or a "gimlet" because of how it grows. This tree has smooth bark, long, thin leaves, and pretty creamy white flowers. It also produces interesting fruit.

What Does the Twisted Gimlet Look Like?

The Eucalyptus tortilis is a type of tree called a mallet or a gimlet. It usually grows to be about 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 feet) tall. This tree has stems that are grooved or "fluted," like a column. It does not form a special woody lump at its base called a lignotuber.

The bark of this tree is smooth and shiny. It can be greenish or have a copper color. Its adult leaves are glossy green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, about 55 to 95 millimeters (2.2 to 3.7 inches) long. They are also 7 to 18 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) wide. The leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 8 to 18 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long.

The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, which is called an axil. These groups of buds grow on a stalk called a peduncle, which can be up to 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, up to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long.

When the buds are ready, they are shaped like a long oval. They are about 10 to 14 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (0.2 to 0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or look like a beak. The tree flowers in May, and its flowers are a lovely creamy white color.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Eucalyptus tortilis was officially described in 1991. Two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, gave it its name. They wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. They found the first samples of this tree east of Norseman in 1983.

The second part of its scientific name, tortilis, comes from a Latin word. It means "twisted." This name was chosen because the trunk of this gimlet tree often looks twisted.

E. tortilis is one of nine different types of gimlet trees. Six of these, including E. tortilis, have their flower buds in groups of seven. These include the silver gimlet (E. campaspe), the rough-barked gimlet (E. effusa), the Norseman gimlet (E. jimberlanica), the gimlet (E. salubris), E. ravida, and the Balladonia gimlet (E. terebra). The other three types of gimlets have their flower buds in groups of three.

Where Does It Grow?

This gimlet tree is found in Western Australia. It grows on flat areas and small hills. You can find it between the towns of Kalgoorlie and Esperance. This area is known as the Goldfields-Esperance region. The tree prefers to grow in soils that are loamy and contain lime.

Is It Endangered?

The government of Western Australia has looked at the Eucalyptus tortilis. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means that there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently at risk of disappearing.