Faulconbridge mallee ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Faulconbridge mallee ash |
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| Eucalyptus burgessiana in the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
burgessiana
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The Eucalyptus burgessiana, often called the Faulconbridge mallee ash, is a type of small tree or mallee. It is found only in New South Wales, Australia. This plant has smooth bark and long, narrow adult leaves. Its flowers are white and grow in groups of seven to eleven buds. After flowering, it produces barrel-shaped or cup-shaped fruits.
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What the Faulconbridge Mallee Ash Looks Like
The Eucalyptus burgessiana is usually a mallee, which means it's a shrubby plant with many stems growing from the ground. It can also be a small tree, growing up to about 7 metres (23 ft) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of the Faulconbridge mallee ash is smooth. It can be many colors like grey, pink, orange, or pale brown. Young plants and new shoots that grow after damage (called coppice regrowth) have bumpy lower stems. Their young leaves are shiny and bright green on both sides. These young leaves are wide and shaped like a spear, up to 150 mm (5.9 in) long and 50 mm (2 in) wide. They also have a stalk, called a petiole.
As the plant gets older, its leaves change. Adult leaves are narrow and curved, about 70–130 mm (2.8–5.1 in) long and 13–25 mm (0.5–1 in) wide. Their petioles are 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. Each group is on a single stem called a peduncle, which is 8–19 mm (0.31–0.75 in) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk, or pedicel, about 2–6 mm (0.079–0.24 in) long.
When the flower buds are ready, they are oval-shaped, 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) wide. They have a cap-like lid called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or rounded, sometimes with a small point.
This plant mainly flowers between August and December. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule that is shaped like a barrel, cup, or urn. It is about 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) long and wide.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus burgessiana was officially described in 1972. Two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Donald Blaxell, wrote about it. They found a sample of the plant in a place called Faulconbridge.
The second part of its scientific name, burgessiana, is a special honor. It was named after Colin Burgess (1907–1987). He was a person who knew a lot about the plants found in the Blue Mountains area.
Where the Faulconbridge Mallee Ash Lives
The Faulconbridge mallee ash grows in areas called mallee shrubland. You can find it in New South Wales, Australia, between the towns of Springwood, Faulconbridge, and Jervis Bay.
