Griffith's grey gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Griffith's grey gum |
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| Eucalyptus griffithsii in the Karlkurla Bushland Park, Kalgoorlie | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
griffithsii
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Griffith's grey gum, also known as Eucalyptus griffithsii, is a special type of tree or large shrub. It grows only in Western Australia. This plant has smooth bark that is grey or whitish. Sometimes, the bark near the bottom of its trunk can be rough. It has long, narrow adult leaves. Its flowers are white and grow in groups of three. The fruit looks like a cone or a cup.
What it Looks Like
Griffith's grey gum is usually a large shrub called a mallee, or sometimes a small tree. It typically grows about 3 to 10 meters (10 to 33 feet) tall. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and can be grey or whitish. Sometimes, the bottom 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) of the trunk has rough, scaly bark. Young plants have leaves that are greyish-green and shaped like an oval or a spear. These leaves are about 4.5 to 13.5 centimeters (1.8 to 5.3 inches) long and 1.6 to 3.5 centimeters (0.6 to 1.4 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are usually glossy green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, about 8 to 13.5 centimeters (3.1 to 5.3 inches) long and 0.8 to 2.7 centimeters (0.3 to 1.1 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 1.5 to 3 centimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of three. Each group is on a short stem called a peduncle, which is 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud is on an even shorter stem called a pedicel, about 0.3 to 1 centimeter (0.1 to 0.4 inches) long.
Mature buds are shaped like a cylinder or a pear. They are about 0.8 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 0.7 to 1.5 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) wide. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, has lines on it and is wider than the base.
This plant blooms between September and December, or sometimes between January and March. Its flowers are white. After flowering, it produces a woody fruit. This fruit is shaped like a cone or a cup, about 0.8 to 1.6 centimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide. It has two ridges on its sides.
Naming the Plant
The scientific name Eucalyptus griffithsii was first officially described in 1911. This was done by a botanist named Joseph Maiden. He wrote about it in a science journal.
The second part of the name, griffithsii, was chosen to honor John Moore Griffiths. He was a person who showed great interest in Joseph Maiden's work for nearly thirty years.
Where it Grows
Griffith's grey gum is found in the Goldfields-Esperance area of Western Australia. It grows between the towns of Kalgoorlie and Norseman. You can find it on low, flat areas and on rocky hillsides. It prefers soils that are a mix of loam and gravel.
Conservation Status
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at Griffith's grey gum. They have decided that this plant is "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
Images for kids
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A mature Griffith's grey gum tree with a man standing nearby, around 1920.
