Jimberlana mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jimberlana mallee |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
platydisca
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The Jimberlana mallee (Eucalyptus platydisca) is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It grows naturally in Western Australia. This tree is considered "vulnerable" because there aren't many of them left. Both the Australian and Western Australian governments protect it by law.
What Does It Look Like?
The Jimberlana mallee is a type of mallee. This means it's a shrub or small tree with many stems growing from the ground. It usually grows to be about 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet) tall.
Its bark is smooth and has a mottled grey color. If there's a bushfire, this plant can grow back. It does this from a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber.
The leaves of the Jimberlana mallee are stiff and narrow. They are a dull grey-green color and form an open shape at the top of the plant.
- Flowers and Fruit:
- The plant produces diamond-shaped flower buds.
- These buds grow in groups of seven where the leaves meet the stem.
- Each bud is about 12 to 15 millimeters long and 8 to 9 millimeters wide.
- When they open, they reveal beautiful white flowers.
- After the flowers, cup-shaped fruits appear. These fruits have a flat top and are about 11 to 16 millimeters wide.
How It Got Its Name
The Jimberlana mallee, Eucalyptus platydisca, was first described in 1998. Two botanists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it. They found samples of the plant on Jimberlana Hill, near Norseman.
Later, in 2006, the description was officially published. This was done by Ian Brooker and Dean Nicolle in a science journal called Nuytsia.
- Meaning of the Name:
- The second part of its scientific name, platydisca, tells us something about the plant.
- "Platy" comes from ancient Greek and means "wide" or "flat."
- "Disca" comes from Latin and means "disc."
- So, platydisca refers to the wide, flat rim of the plant's fruit.
This species belongs to a group of mallees called the Diversiformae series. Plants in this group have adult leaves that stand upright. Their flower buds have a single cap, and their seeds are shaped like pyramids.
Where Does It Live?
The Jimberlana mallee is found in a small area of Western Australia. It grows on stony hills in the Goldfields-Esperance region, just east of Norseman.
It prefers to grow in clay-loam and granite soils. This plant is only found on two granite hills:
- Jimberlana Hill, where about 200 individual plants grow.
- Mount Norcott, which has even more plants.
The soil in these areas is often reddish and sandy, found between large boulders. The Jimberlana mallee grows as part of an open mallee community. It shares its home with other plants like Eucalyptus longissima, Eucalyptus griffithsii, and Triodia hummock grasses.
Why Is It Protected?
The Jimberlana mallee is listed as "vulnerable" by the Australian Government. It is also called "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia. This means it's a plant that needs our help to survive.
- Main Threats:
- Small Population: There are not many Jimberlana mallees left in the wild. This makes them more vulnerable to problems.
- Mining Activities: The areas where they grow can be affected by mining.
- Unauthorized Collection: Sometimes, people collect its flowers and fruit without permission. This can harm the plant's ability to reproduce and grow new plants.
Protecting this unique plant helps keep Australia's amazing natural environment healthy.
