Ooldea Range mallee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ooldea Range mallee
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	canescens

The Eucalyptus canescens, commonly known as the Ooldea Range mallee or Beadell's mallee, is a special type of eucalyptus tree found only in southern Australia. It has rough bark on its main trunk and thicker branches. The thinner branches have smooth bark. Its leaves are shaped like eggs or spears. This plant produces creamy white flowers in groups of seven to eleven buds. After flowering, it grows smooth, cup-shaped fruits that can sometimes have ribs.

What Does It Look Like?

The Eucalyptus canescens is a type of mallee that usually grows as a small tree or shrub. It can reach about 3 metres (10 feet) tall, but it often spreads out low to the ground. This plant has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires or damage.

Its bark is rough and flaky, usually grey, on the main trunk and branches up to about 5 cm (2 inches) thick. The thinner branches have smooth, light grey bark. Young plants and new shoots have bluish-white, egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 60-100 mm (2.4-3.9 inches) long and 45-55 mm (1.8-2.2 inches) wide.

Adult leaves are dull bluish to greyish-green on both sides. They can be egg-shaped or spear-shaped. These leaves are usually 75-125 mm (3-5 inches) long and 20-58 mm (0.8-2.3 inches) wide. They grow on a stalk called a petiole, which is about 15-25 mm (0.6-1 inch) long.

The flower buds grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. These groups are on a stalk called a peduncle, which is 8-22 mm (0.3-0.9 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 1-5 mm (0.04-0.2 inches) long.

Mature buds are oval or pear-shaped. They are 9-14 mm (0.4-0.6 inches) long and 8-9 mm (0.3-0.4 inches) wide. The cap that covers the flower, called an operculum, is rounded or cone-shaped. It is 4-7 mm (0.2-0.3 inches) long and often has small lines or grooves on it.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces fruits. These fruits can be cup-shaped, cylindrical, half-sphere shaped, or cone-shaped. They are 8-12 mm (0.3-0.5 inches) long and 9-12 mm (0.4-0.5 inches) wide.

Naming and Types

The Eucalyptus canescens was first officially described in 1998 by a scientist named Dean Nicolle. His description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia. The second part of its scientific name, canescens, comes from a Latin word. It means "grey" or "hoary," which describes the grey look of this plant.

There are two main types, or subspecies, of Eucalyptus canescens:

• Eucalyptus canescens subsp. canescens: This type is known as the Ooldea Range mallee. Its twigs, buds, and fruits are covered with a powdery white layer. Its leaves are greyish, and its fruits often have stronger ribs.
• Eucalyptus canescens subsp. beadellii: This type is called Beadell's mallee. It does not have the powdery white layer found on the other subspecies.

The name beadellii was chosen to honor Len Beadell, a famous surveyor and explorer.

Where It Grows

The subspecies canescens grows in the southern part of the Great Victoria Desert. You can find it on sand dunes or sandy plains. It grows from near Cook to near Maralinga in South Australia, and also extends into Western Australia.

The subspecies beadellii is quite rare. It has only been found near the Cook-Vokes Hill track.

Images for kids

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  Flower buds of subspecies canescens

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  Flower buds of subspecies beadellii

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  Fruit