Murraylands mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murraylands mallee |
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| Eucalyptus cyanophylla foliage and fruit in Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
cyanophylla
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The Eucalyptus cyanophylla, commonly known as the Murraylands mallee, blue-leaved mallee or ghost mallee, is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It grows only in southern Australia. This tree usually has smooth bark and cool grey-blue leaves. When it flowers, you'll see white blossoms. Later, it grows interesting cone-shaped fruits.
What it Looks Like
The Murraylands mallee is a type of eucalyptus tree. It usually grows to be about 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet) tall. This tree has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
Bark and Leaves
The bark of this tree can be pinkish-brown, white, or orange. Sometimes, the lower part of the trunk has rough, grey, or reddish bark.
Young plants and new shoots that grow after the tree has been cut back (called coppice regrowth) have thick, grey-blue leaves. These leaves are shaped like an oval or a wide egg. They are about 6 to 12 centimeters (2.4 to 4.7 inches) long and 2.5 to 7 centimeters (1 to 2.8 inches) wide.
As the tree gets older, its leaves change. Adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. They are a dull bluish-grey on both sides. These leaves are longer, about 7 to 16 centimeters (2.8 to 6.3 inches) long and 1.7 to 3.5 centimeters (0.7 to 1.4 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stem called a petiole, which is about 1.5 to 2.7 centimeters (0.6 to 1.1 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in groups of seven where the leaves meet the stem (called leaf axils). They are on a short stem called a peduncle, which is about 5 to 13 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) long. Some buds sit directly on the stem (they are sessile), while others have a tiny stalk called a pedicel up to 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long.
When the flower buds are ready, they are oblong-shaped. They are about 7 to 13 millimeters (0.3 to 0.5 inches) long and 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. Each bud has a cap called an operculum, which can be rounded or cone-shaped.
The Murraylands mallee flowers between August and October. Its flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cone, a cup, or a barrel. They are about 6 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) wide. Inside, the parts that open to release seeds (called valves) are close to the rim of the fruit.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus cyanophylla was first officially described in 1977 by a scientist named Ian Brooker. He found a sample of the tree near Berri. The description was published in a scientific journal called Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia.
The second part of its scientific name, cyanophylla, comes from two Ancient Greek words. Kyanos means "dark blue," and phyllon means "leaf." This name refers to the bluish color of the tree's leaves.
Where it Lives
The blue-leaved mallee grows in sandy soil, often on top of limestone. It prefers open shrubland areas. You can mostly find this tree in South Australia, between Waikerie, Renmark, and Alawoona. It also grows in the northwestern part of Victoria.
