Lesueur phantom mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesueur phantom mallee |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
angularis
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The Eucalyptus angularis, also known as the Lesueur phantom mallee, is a small tree. It is a special type of eucalyptus that grows naturally in Western Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
The Lesueur phantom mallee is a type of mallee plant. This means it grows like a large bush with many stems coming from the ground. It can reach about 3 meters (10 feet) tall.
This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it store food and water, allowing it to regrow after fires.
Its bark is rough and flaky near the bottom of the stems. Higher up, the bark becomes smooth. The small branches are not round but have noticeable angles.
The leaves are shiny green. They are shaped like a spearhead (lanceolate) or curved like a sickle (falcate). These leaves are usually 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. They are about 1.6 centimeters (0.6 inches) wide.
How Was It Discovered and Named?
This unique eucalyptus species was officially described in 1993. Two botanists, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper, gave it its scientific name.
They published their findings in a scientific journal called Nuytsia. Their work helped scientists learn more about this plant.
Where Does It Grow?
The Lesueur phantom mallee is found in a small area of Western Australia. It grows along the west coast in the Wheatbelt region. You can find it near a town called Dandaragan.
It prefers to grow on rocky areas called lateritic breakaways. These are places where the land breaks away, showing iron-rich soil.
Only two small groups of these mallees are known to exist. One group is near Mount Lesueur, and the other is on Mount Benia. This makes the Lesueur phantom mallee quite rare.
