Green mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green mallee |
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| Eucalyptus viridis near Euabalong | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
viridis
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The green mallee (Eucalyptus viridis) is a type of mallee or small tree. It is found only in south-eastern Australia. This plant has rough bark on its lower trunk and smooth bark higher up. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flowers are white. The green mallee also produces cup-shaped fruits.
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What is the Green Mallee?
The green mallee is usually a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus tree that grows many stems from a large, woody base called a lignotuber. Sometimes, it can grow as a small tree. It typically reaches a height of about 8 to 10 meters (around 26 to 33 feet).
Its bark is rough and dark grey on the lower part of the stems. Higher up, the bark is smooth and greyish-brown. Sometimes, the whole tree has smooth bark.
Leaves of the Green Mallee
Young green mallee plants have leaves that are long and narrow, about 4.5 to 9.5 centimeters (1.8 to 3.7 inches) long and 0.2 to 1.1 centimeters (0.08 to 0.4 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are shiny green and also long and narrow. They can be 5 to 13 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) long and 0.3 to 1.5 centimeters (0.1 to 0.6 inches) wide. They have a short stem called a petiole that connects them to the branch.
Flowers and Fruit
The green mallee's flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine at the ends of its branches. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.3 to 1.3 centimeters (0.1 to 0.5 inches) long. Each individual bud also has a tiny stalk called a pedicel.
Mature buds are oval or diamond-shaped, about 0.4 to 0.8 centimeters (0.16 to 0.3 inches) long. They have a cone-shaped cap called an operculum. The green mallee has white flowers, and you can see them blooming in most months of the year.
After flowering, the plant produces woody, cup-shaped fruits. These fruits are called capsules and are about 0.3 to 0.7 centimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long.
Naming the Green Mallee
The green mallee was first officially described in 1900 by a scientist named Richard Thomas Baker. He published his description in a scientific paper. The name viridis comes from a Latin word that means "green," which describes the color of its leaves.
Where the Green Mallee Lives
The green mallee grows in mallee shrubland areas, which are flat or gently rolling lands. You can find it in several parts of Australia:
- In Queensland, mostly south of Taroom.
- Across the western slopes and plains of New South Wales.
- Near Bendigo in Victoria.
- In the Little Desert National Park in Victoria.
- In the south-east of South Australia.
How People Use It
This eucalyptus tree is important for making honey. Bees collect nectar from its flowers. Its leaves are also gathered to make cineole-based eucalyptus oil, which is used in many products.
See also
In Spanish: Eucalyptus viridis para niños
