Ewart's mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ewart's mallee |
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| Eucalyptus ewartiana on Mt. Robinson | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
ewartiana
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Ewart's mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus ewartiana) is a special type of eucalypt tree. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there. This tree has cool reddish-brown bark that peels off in strips, called minni ritchi bark.
It has long, thin leaves that can also be egg-shaped. Its flowers are white and grow in groups of seven buds. After flowering, it produces woody, cone-shaped fruits.
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What Does Ewart's Mallee Look Like?
Eucalyptus ewartiana is a type of mallee, which means it's a shrubby eucalypt. It usually grows to be about 2 to 7 meters (6 to 23 feet) tall. It has reddish-brown bark that peels off in thin strips, a style known as minni-ritchi.
The plant also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Young plants and new shoots have egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 50 to 80 mm (2 to 3 inches) long and 15 to 50 mm (0.6 to 2 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are a dull green or greyish color on both sides. They can be narrow and spear-shaped or more egg-shaped. These leaves are usually 45 to 95 mm (1.8 to 3.7 inches) long and 10 to 30 mm (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stem (called a petiole) that is 7 to 25 mm (0.3 to 1 inch) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem (called leaf axils). Each group of buds sits on a stalk (peduncle) that is 5 to 20 mm (0.2 to 0.8 inches) long. Each individual bud has a smaller stalk (pedicel) about 3 to 7 mm (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long.
Mature buds are round or oval-shaped. They are about 6 to 9 mm (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 7 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is rounded.
Ewart's mallee flowers mostly between August and February. Its flowers are white.
After the flowers, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cone or half a sphere. They are 2 to 6 mm (0.08 to 0.24 inches) long and 7 to 13 mm (0.3 to 0.5 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds (valves) stick out above the rim of the fruit.
How Was Ewart's Mallee Named?
The scientific name Eucalyptus ewartiana was first officially described in 1919. This was done by a botanist named Joseph Maiden. He found a sample of the tree near a place called Pindar in 1909.
Maiden published his description in a scientific paper called Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. The second part of the name, ewartiana, was chosen to honor another important botanist, Alfred James Ewart.
Where Does Ewart's Mallee Grow?
Ewart's mallee can be found in different parts of Western Australia. It grows on sandy plains and near granite rock formations.
You can find it in regions like the Mid West, Wheatbelt, Pilbara, and Goldfields-Esperance. It prefers to grow in soils that are a mix of loam and sand.
Is Ewart's Mallee in Danger?
The good news is that Ewart's mallee is not considered to be in danger. The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this eucalypt as "not threatened." This means there are enough of these trees growing in the wild.
