Marymia mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marymia mallee |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
semota
|
The Marymia Mallee (Eucalyptus semota) is a special type of mallee or small tree. It only grows in a small part of central Western Australia. This plant has rough, flaky bark on its main trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth and grey or brown. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flowers are white. It grows in groups of seven or nine buds, and its fruit looks like a small cone or cup.
Contents
What the Marymia Mallee Looks Like
The Marymia Mallee is a tree or a mallee. It usually grows up to 8 m (26 ft) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
Bark and Leaves
The bark on the lower part of the trunk is rough. It can be flaky or stringy, and grey to black. Higher up, the bark is smooth and grey or brown.
Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have square-shaped stems. Their leaves are dull greenish-grey and narrow. These leaves are about 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) long and 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) wide.
Adult leaves are shiny dark green on both sides. They are long and narrow, measuring 60–90 mm (2.4–3.5 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) wide. Each leaf tapers down to a small stalk called a petiole, which is about 4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine. They are found where the leaf meets the stem, in a spot called a leaf axil. These buds sit on a flat stalk called a peduncle, which is 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) long. Each individual bud has a tiny stem called a pedicel, about 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long.
When the buds are ready, they are shaped like a cylinder or an oval. They are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide. Each bud has a cap on top called an operculum, which can be cone-shaped or flat. The flowers are white.
After the flowers, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule shaped like a cone or a cup. It is about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and wide. The parts that open to release seeds (called valves) are below the rim of the fruit.
How it Was Named
Eucalyptus semota was first officially described in 1996. This was done by two scientists, Carol J. Macpherson and Peter M. Grayling. They found the first samples of this plant near Marymia Hill, which is north-east of Kumarina.
The second part of its scientific name, semota, comes from a Latin word. Semotus means "remote" or "far away." This name was chosen because this eucalyptus species grows far away from its closest relatives.
Where it Grows
The Marymia Mallee is found in only three separate places. These locations are between Marymia Hill and Kumarina in Western Australia. It likes to grow in clay soils, often found in small valleys or gullies.
Conservation Status
The Government of Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife has given this eucalypt a special classification. It is listed as "Priority One." This means that the Marymia Mallee is known from only a few spots. Because of this, these small groups of plants could be at risk.
