Eucalyptus × stoataptera facts for kids

Eucalyptus × stoataptera is a unique small tree. It grows only in a tiny part of Western Australia. This area is on the south coast. The tree has a thick top, called a crown. Its bark is smooth on both the trunk and branches. Its leaves are shiny and shaped like an oval. This eucalyptus has single flower buds. They grow where the leaves meet the stem, called an axil. The flowers are bright lemon-orange. Its fruit is special because it's square-shaped. This tree is a natural hybrid. It's a mix of two other eucalyptus trees: the Eucalyptus stoatei and the E. tetraptera.

What it Looks Like

Eucalyptus × stoataptera is a tree. It usually grows up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) tall. Its bark is smooth. It has patches of dark grey and light grey on its trunk and branches.

Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit

The adult leaves grow in an alternating pattern. They are shiny green on both sides. Each leaf is oblong, meaning it's longer than it is wide. They have a long, pointed tip. These leaves are usually 90 to 110 millimeters (about 3.5 to 4.3 inches) long. They are also 30 to 35 millimeters (about 1.2 to 1.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk, called a petiole.

The flower buds grow one by one. They hang down from a stalk called a peduncle. This stalk is 30 to 35 millimeters long. It becomes flat near the flower's base. The individual buds hang on a very short stem.

When the buds are ready, they are red. They are square-shaped with a wing on each corner. These buds are 42 to 48 millimeters (about 1.7 to 1.9 inches) long. They are 24 to 28 millimeters (about 0.9 to 1.1 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap, called an operculum.

The fruit is a woody capsule. It hangs down from the branch. The fruit is red and 36 to 58 millimeters (about 1.4 to 2.3 inches) long. It is 25 to 32 millimeters (about 1 to 1.3 inches) wide. Like the buds, the fruit has a wing on each corner. It also has up to five small ridges between each pair of wings.

How it was Named

Eucalyptus × stoataptera was officially described in 1995. A scientist named Eleanor Marion Bennett gave it its name. She wrote about it in a science journal called Nuytsia. She had collected samples of the tree in 1991. She found them between the towns of Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun.

The special part of its name, "stoataptera," tells us about its parents. It's a mix of the names of its parent trees. These are E. stoatei and E. tetraptera.

Where it Grows

This eucalyptus tree grows in a specific type of plant area. It's found in low to medium mallee shrubland. This is a type of bushland where many small, multi-stemmed trees grow. It grows alongside its parent species. It also grows with E. kessellii. You can find it in the Esperance Plains biogeographic region. This is a natural area with similar plants and animals.