Mount House box facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount House box |
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| Eucalyptus argillacea near Mount Barnett Station | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
argillacea
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The Eucalyptus argillacea, also known as Mount House box or northern grey box, is a type of tree found only in northern Australia. It has rough, stringy bark and leaves shaped like a spear. Its flowers are usually creamy white and grow in groups of seven. After flowering, it produces cone-shaped fruits.
About the Mount House Box Tree
The Eucalyptus argillacea is a tree that typically grows to be about 4 to 14 meters (13 to 46 feet) tall. It has rough, grey, stringy bark that covers its trunk and branches.
Its adult leaves are usually oval or spear-shaped, and they can be light green or a bit greyish-green. These leaves are about 5 to 14 centimeters (2 to 5.5 inches) long and 0.7 to 3.5 centimeters (0.3 to 1.4 inches) wide. They grow on a small stem called a petiole, which is about 0.5 to 2.3 centimeters (0.2 to 0.9 inches) long.
The tree's flower buds grow in small groups, usually with three to seven buds together. These groups are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is about 0.3 to 1.5 centimeters (0.1 to 0.6 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stem, called a pedicel, about 0.2 to 0.5 centimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are shaped like a pear, an oval, or a spindle. They are about 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.6 centimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap, called an operculum, which is cone-shaped or has a small beak. This cap is about 0.2 to 0.3 centimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long.
The Mount House box tree blooms with creamy white flowers. This usually happens between April and July, or sometimes from October to December. After the flowers, the tree produces cone-shaped fruits called capsules. These fruits are about 0.6 to 1 centimeter (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 0.4 to 0.6 centimeters (0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus argillacea was officially described for the first time in 1918 by a botanist named William Vincent Fitzgerald. His description was published in a book about eucalyptus trees by Joseph Maiden. Fitzgerald had collected samples of the tree in 1905 near Mount House Station.
The second part of the tree's scientific name, argillacea, comes from a Latin word that means "clayey." This name was chosen because the soil where the first samples were found was made of clay.
Where it Lives
The Mount House box tree grows along rivers and on flat plains. It prefers to grow in rich river soil (called alluvium) and heavy clay soils. You can find populations of this tree in the Kimberley area of Western Australia, as well as in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.
