Eucalyptus tumida facts for kids

The Eucalyptus tumida is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in the southern coastal areas of Western Australia. It's known for its smooth bark and long, thin adult leaves. When it blooms, you'll see groups of 11 to 15 white or pale yellow flowers. After flowering, it produces fruit shaped like cylinders.

What it Looks Like

The Eucalyptus tumida is a type of mallee, which means it's a small, bushy tree with many stems growing from the ground. It usually grows to be about 1.5 to 4 meters (5 to 13 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even reach up to 8 meters (26 feet)! This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.

Its bark is smooth and can be brown or grey. Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have dull bluish-green leaves. These leaves are usually 60 to 75 mm long and 33 to 45 mm wide. As the plant gets older, its adult leaves become the same shade of green on both sides. They are 60 to 100 mm long and 12 to 25 mm wide. These leaves narrow down to a stalk called a petiole, which is about 10 to 20 mm long.

Flowers and Buds

The flower buds of the Eucalyptus tumida grow in groups of 11 to 15. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, in areas called axils. These groups of buds grow on a flat, unbranched stalk called a peduncle, which is 10 to 20 mm long. Each individual bud has its own small stem, or pedicel, about 1 to 4 mm long.

When the buds are ready to open, they look like sausages. They are 12 to 22 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide. Each bud has a horn-shaped cap called an operculum. This cap is about three times longer than the base of the flower, which is called the floral cup. The Eucalyptus tumida blooms from September to February. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white or pale yellow color.

How it Got its Name

Eucalyptus tumida was officially named in 1991. Two scientists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, described it in a science journal called Nuytsia. They found the first samples of this plant near Esperance in 1983.

The second part of its scientific name, tumida, comes from a Latin word. Tumidus means "swollen." This name was chosen because the flower buds of this eucalyptus are quite large and look swollen. They are the biggest buds in the group of eucalyptus plants it belongs to, called the Levispermae series.

Where it Grows

This special mallee tree is found only in a specific part of Western Australia. It grows in areas near the coast, between Ravensthorpe, Israelite Bay, and Salmon Gums. It likes to grow on flat areas and small hills. You'll usually find it in soils that are sandy, clay-like, and have a lot of lime (calcareous).

Is it Endangered?

The good news is that the Eucalyptus tumida is not considered to be in danger. The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified it as "not threatened." This means there are enough of these plants in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.