Fuchsia gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fuschia gum |
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| Eucalyptus dolichorhyncha (a cultivated plant) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
dolichorhyncha
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus forrestiana subsp. dolichorhyncha Brooker |
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The fuchsia gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus dolichorhyncha) is a special type of mallet tree. It only grows in the south-west part of Western Australia. This tree has smooth, light grey bark and long, narrow adult leaves. Its flower buds are bright red and hang down, while its flowers are yellow. The fruit is shaped like a square and has wings.
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What the Fuchsia Gum Looks Like
The fuchsia gum is a type of mallet tree. It usually grows to be about 1 to 6 metres (3 to 20 feet) tall. Unlike some other eucalypts, it does not grow a special woody lump called a lignotuber at its base.
Its bark is smooth and peels off in strips. It's usually a pale grey color over a pale orange or light brown.
Leaves and Buds
Young fuchsia gum plants have leaves that are egg-shaped to lance-shaped. They are about 30 to 100 mm (1 to 4 inches) long and 20 to 60 mm (1 to 2 inches) wide. These young leaves have a stalk, called a petiole.
As the tree grows, its adult leaves become lance-shaped to oblong. They are about 45 to 90 mm (2 to 4 inches) long and 10 to 27 mm (0.4 to 1.1 inches) wide. These adult leaves also have a petiole, which is about 8 to 16 mm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long.
The flower buds of the fuchsia gum are very striking. They hang down by themselves from where the leaves join the stem. Each bud hangs on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 20 to 42 mm (0.8 to 1.7 inches) long. The smaller stalk connecting the bud is called a pedicel, and it's about 8 to 15 mm (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long.
Mature buds are bright red and shaped like an oblong. They are square in cross-section and have a wing on each corner. These buds are quite large, about 32 to 55 mm (1.3 to 2.2 inches) long and 10 to 18 mm (0.4 to 0.7 inches) wide.
Flowers and Fruit
Fuchsia gum trees usually flower between January and May. Their flowers are a bright yellow color.
After flowering, the tree produces woody fruit. This fruit is a type of capsule and looks similar in shape to the mature buds. It is about 29 to 40 mm (1.1 to 1.6 inches) long and 13 to 30 mm (0.5 to 1.2 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are tucked inside the rim of the fruit.
How the Fuchsia Gum Got its Name
The fuchsia gum was first officially described in 1973. A botanist named Ian Brooker gave it the name Eucalyptus forrestiana subspecies dolichorhyncha. He published his description in a science journal called the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia.
The very first plant specimen used for this description was collected by John W. Green in 1957. He found it near a place called Grass Patch.
Later, in 1993, Ian Brooker and another botanist, Stephen Hopper, decided that this subspecies was unique enough to be its own species. So, they changed its name to E. dolichorhyncha.
The second part of its scientific name, dolichorhyncha, comes from two Ancient Greek words. Dolichos means "long," and rhynchos means "snout" or "muzzle." This name refers to the long, narrow cap (called an operculum) that covers the flower bud.
Where the Fuchsia Gum Lives
The fuchsia gum has a small natural home range. It grows on flat areas along the south coast of the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. This area is just north of the town of Esperance. It prefers to grow in sandy clay or clay soils.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given the fuchsia gum a special classification. It is listed as "Priority Four". This means that the plant is rare or close to being threatened in the wild.
