Wyola mallee facts for kids

The Wyola mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus wyolensis) is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It's called a mallee because it usually has many stems growing from the ground, like a bush. This plant is only found in one specific area of South Australia. It has rough bark near the bottom of its stems and smooth, grey or brown bark higher up. Its leaves are shaped like hearts or eggs and grow in pairs. When it blooms, it has pale yellow flowers that grow in groups, and its fruits look like small cups or barrels.

What is the Wyola Mallee Like?

The Wyola mallee is a type of eucalyptus tree that usually grows up to about 7 meters (23 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling underground called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire or damage.

The bark on the lower part of the tree's stems is rough and stringy. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be grey, brown, or creamy in color.

Young Wyola mallee plants have stems that are square. Their leaves are heart-shaped and have a dull, blue-green color, which is called glaucous. These young leaves are about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 4 to 7 centimeters (1.6 to 2.8 inches) wide.

The adult leaves are similar to the young ones. They are also heart-shaped or egg-shaped and glaucous (dull blue-green) on both sides. They don't have a stalk, meaning they are sessile and attach directly to the stem. These leaves are about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long and 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) wide.

The flowers of the Wyola mallee grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the axil. Each group of flowers grows on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) long.

The mature flower buds are oval-shaped and glaucous. They are about 12 to 17 millimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) long and 6 to 8 millimeters (0.24 to 0.31 inches) wide. Each bud has a beak-shaped cap, called an operculum, which is longer than the base of the flower, known as the floral cup.

Wyola mallee flowers are pale yellow and have been seen blooming in July. After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like cups or barrels and are about 8 to 11 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 8 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds, called valves, stick out above the rim of the fruit.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The Wyola mallee was officially described in 1988 by a scientist named Clifford David Boomsma. He wrote about it in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The plants he studied were found near Lake Maurice and Lake Wyola in 1987.

The scientific name, wyolensis, and the common name, Wyola mallee, both come from Lake Wyola. This lake is located in the Great Victoria Desert, which is where this special plant grows.

Where Does It Grow?

The Wyola mallee is a very rare plant. It is only known to grow in two places in South Australia. These areas are located between Lake Maurice and the border with Western Australia. It grows in sandy areas with red sand.