Plunkett mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plunkett mallee |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Eucalyptus curtisii in Maranoa Gardens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
curtisii
|
The Plunkett mallee (scientific name: Eucalyptus curtisii) is a special type of mallee or small tree. It only grows in south-east Queensland, Australia. This means it is endemic to that area. It has smooth, shiny bark that is grey or silver. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flowers are white. The fruit looks like a wrinkled cup.
Contents
What the Plunkett Mallee Looks Like
The Plunkett mallee is a thin mallee or a small tree. It usually grows to be about 7 to 12 meters (23 to 39 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the plant regrow after a fire.
Its bark is smooth and can be grey or silvery. It peels off in small, curly pieces.
Leaves and Flowers
Young Plunkett mallee plants have long, narrow leaves. These leaves are about 30 to 62 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long and 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. They are a bit darker green on the top side.
Older plants have different leaves. These leaves are shaped like a spear, oval, or slightly curved. They are shiny green on top but much lighter underneath. They measure about 60 to 140 millimeters (2.4 to 5.5 inches) long and 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has a stalk called a petiole, which is 7 to 18 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long.
The flowers grow in groups of seven. These groups are found on a branching stem near the ends of the branches. This whole flower arrangement is called an inflorescence. Each group of seven buds sits on a main stalk called a peduncle, which is 7 to 17 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 2 to 5 millimeters (0.08 to 0.2 inches) long.
The mature flower buds are oval or pear-shaped. They are 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16 to 0.28 inches) wide. The top of the bud, which covers the flower, is rounded. This cap is called an operculum.
The Plunkett mallee flowers from September to December. Its flowers are white or creamy white.
Fruit
After flowering, the plant produces fruit. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped capsule. It looks wrinkled and is about 5 to 11 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 6 to 11 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) wide.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus curtisii was first officially described in 1931. This was done by two botanists, William Blakely and Cyril White. They found a sample of the plant on sandstone hills near Plunkett, which is now Plunkett Conservation Park. This area is about 33 miles (53 kilometers) southwest of Brisbane.
The description of the plant was published in a scientific paper called Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. The second part of the plant's scientific name, curtisii, honors Densil Curtis. He was a farmer and naturalist who collected the first samples of the plant in 1923 and 1929. These first samples are called type specimens.
Where the Plunkett Mallee Lives
The Plunkett mallee grows in areas with shrubs and open forests. It prefers places where the soil does not drain very well. You can find it in south-east Queensland, in an area stretching between Beenleigh, Inglewood, Dalby, and Theodore.
See also
In Spanish: Eucalyptus curtisii para niños
