Hook-leaved mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hook-leaved mallee |
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| Eucalyptus uncinata growing near Esperance | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
uncinata
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The Hook-leaved Mallee, also known as Eucalyptus uncinata, is a special type of eucalyptus tree that grows only in the southwest part of Western Australia. It's easy to spot with its smooth bark and long, thin leaves.
This plant gets its name from the slightly hooked tips of its leaves. It produces creamy white flowers and unique barrel-shaped fruits.
Contents
What Does the Hook-Leaved Mallee Look Like?
The Hook-leaved Mallee is a type of mallee plant. This means it's a shrub or small tree that usually grows many stems from a large, woody base called a lignotuber. It typically reaches a height of 1 to 8 meters (about 3 to 26 feet).
Its bark is smooth and can be grey or light brown. It peels off in short, curly strips. Sometimes, you might see a short patch of rough, fibrous bark near the bottom of the plant.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants have leaves that grow in opposite pairs. These leaves are egg-shaped to round, about 17 to 55 millimeters (0.7 to 2.2 inches) long and wide.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are narrow and shaped like a spear, measuring 65 to 115 millimeters (2.6 to 4.5 inches) long and 10 to 25 millimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) wide. Each leaf tapers down to a stalk called a petiole, which is 7 to 25 millimeters (0.3 to 1 inch) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of nine, eleven, or thirteen. They are found where the leaves meet the stem, on a flat stalk called a peduncle. This stalk is 3 to 20 millimeters (0.1 to 0.8 inches) long.
The individual buds are oval or spindle-shaped, 7 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long and 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They have a cap, called an operculum, which is cone-shaped or rounded.
The Hook-leaved Mallee blooms between January and April. Its flowers are a beautiful creamy white color.
Fruit
After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a barrel, an oval, or a cylinder. They are 5 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 4 to 8 millimeters (0.16 to 0.3 inches) wide. The parts that open to release the seeds are tucked below the rim of the fruit.
How It Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus uncinata was first officially described by a botanist named Nikolai Turczaninow. He wrote about it in 1849 in a science journal called Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. He studied samples collected by another botanist, James Drummond.
The second part of its scientific name, uncinata, comes from the Latin word uncinatus. This word means "barbed" or "hooked". It refers to the small, fine tip found on the leaves of this plant.
Where Does the Hook-Leaved Mallee Live?
The Hook-leaved Mallee is found in the coastal and near-coastal sandy areas and low hills of Western Australia. You can find it in places like York, the Stirling Range, Salmon Gums, and Israelite Bay. It usually grows in open areas with many shrubs.
This plant often grows alongside other types of eucalypts. These include Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus moderata, and Eucalyptus incrassata. The plants growing underneath these taller trees, called the understorey, are mostly shrubs. You might see species of Melaleuca and Acacia, and sometimes Triodia grass.
Is It Safe?
The Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified this eucalypt as "not threatened". This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
Images for kids
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Hook-leaved Mallee flower buds and flowers
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The fruit of the Hook-leaved Mallee
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An old drawing of E. uncinta from Eucalyptographia
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