Nundroo mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nundroo mallee |
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| Eucalyptus calcareana in the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
calcareana
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The Eucalyptus calcareana, also known as the Nundroo mallee or Nundroo gum, is a special type of eucalyptus tree. It usually grows as a "mallee," which means it's a shrubby tree with many stems growing from the ground. This plant is found only in a specific area along the south coast of Australia.
It has smooth bark that can be grey or cream-colored. Its leaves are shaped like spears or are slightly curved. The flowers are creamy-white and grow in groups of seven or nine. After flowering, it produces fruit that looks like a small cup or cone.
What Does It Look Like?
The Nundroo mallee is usually a small tree or a mallee. It can grow up to about 8 meters (26 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after fires.
Its bark is smooth and can be grey, cream, white, or even orange. It peels off in short strips. Young plants and new shoots have dull, bluish-green leaves. These leaves are egg-shaped to wide and spear-shaped. They are about 6 to 10 centimeters (2.4 to 3.9 inches) long and 3.4 to 4.5 centimeters (1.3 to 1.8 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are spear-shaped or curved, about 7.5 to 14 centimeters (3.0 to 5.5 inches) long and 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.39 to 0.98 inches) wide. These leaves grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 1 to 3 centimeters (0.39 to 1.18 inches) long.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven or nine. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called a leaf axil. These groups of buds are on a stalk called a peduncle, about 0.7 to 1.6 centimeters (0.28 to 0.63 inches) long. Each individual bud has its own tiny stalk, called a pedicel, about 0.1 to 0.5 centimeters (0.04 to 0.20 inches) long.
Mature buds are oval to cylinder-shaped. They are about 0.7 to 1.3 centimeters (0.28 to 0.51 inches) long and 0.5 to 0.6 centimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) wide. Each bud has a cone-shaped cap, called an operculum, which is about 0.25 to 0.6 centimeters (0.098 to 0.236 inches) long.
This plant mostly flowers in March and April. Its flowers are a lovely creamy white color. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped or cone-shaped capsule. It is about 0.5 to 1 centimeter (0.20 to 0.39 inches) long and 0.6 to 0.9 centimeters (0.24 to 0.35 inches) wide. The fruit also sits on a small pedicel, about 0.1 to 0.4 centimeters (0.04 to 0.16 inches) long.
How It Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus calcareana was officially named in 1979. It was named by a scientist named Clifford Boomsma. He found the first samples of this plant near a place called Nundroo.
The second part of its scientific name, calcareana, comes from a Latin word. Calcareus means "of lime" or "limy." This name was chosen because the plant grows in soil that contains a lot of lime.
Where It Grows
The Nundroo mallee is found along the southern coast of Australia. You can see it in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It also grows along the south coast of South Australia. Its range stretches from east of Esperance to the coastal areas of the western Eyre Peninsula.
What It's Used For
This type of eucalyptus tree is often planted in open, windy places. It makes a good windbreak, which helps protect other plants or buildings from strong winds. It can also be used as a shade tree, providing cool spots in sunny areas.
