Mallee (habit) facts for kids
A mallee is a special way certain plants, especially eucalypts, grow. Instead of having one main trunk like a regular tree, mallees have many thin stems. These stems grow from a hidden, woody lump underground called a lignotuber. Mallee plants usually don't grow taller than about 10 meters (33 feet).
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What is a Mallee Plant?
Most mallee plants belong to the Eucalyptus family. Many eucalypts naturally grow in this multi-stemmed way. Some eucalypts might start as single-trunk trees. But if a bushfire burns them down, they can regrow as mallees from their underground lignotuber. This special growth habit also appears in related plant groups like Corymbia and Angophora. The word "mallee" can also describe a plant that grows this way. For example, the malleefowl is a bird often found where mallee plants grow.
Where Do Mallee Plants Live?
Mallee plants are very common in the drier parts of Australia. They thrive in areas that get steady rainfall during winter. These plants form huge areas of woodlands and shrublands. They cover more than 250,000 square kilometers (96,500 square miles) of land. Because they cover such a large area, mallee woodlands and shrublands are considered one of Australia's main types of plant life.
Types of Mallee Plants
Many different types of eucalypts grow as mallees. Here are some common examples you might find:
- E. dumosa, also known as white mallee.
- E. socialis, often called red mallee.
- E. gracilis, known as yorrell.
- E. oleosa, another type of red mallee.
- E. incrassata, called ridge-fruited mallee.
- E. diversifolia, known as soap mallee.
Even in areas with lots of rain, you can find a mallee. A rare example is the yellow-top mallee ash, Eucalyptus luehmanniana.
Images for kids
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This picture shows a scrub or mallee roller being used in South Australian mallee around 1922.
See also
In Spanish: Mallee para niños
