Ponton Creek mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ponton Creek mallee |
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| Eucalyptus articulata near Lake Minigwal in the Great Victoria Desert | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
articulata
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The Eucalyptus articulata, also known as the Ponton Creek mallee, is a special type of small tree. It is a low, bushy plant called a mallee. This plant is found only in a small area near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. It has smooth bark and leaves shaped like a spear. Its flower buds grow in groups of seven, and the flowers are white. After flowering, it produces cone-shaped fruits.
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What it Looks Like
The Ponton Creek mallee is a low, bushy plant. It usually grows up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall. Its bark is smooth and has a light copper color. This color covers the whole trunk and branches.
Leaves and Flowers
Young plants have leaves that look like the adult leaves. They are a dull bluish-green color. Adult leaves are dark and shiny green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, about 60–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide. Each leaf has a stem called a petiole, which is about 8–18 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long. These leaves have many large oil glands.
The flower buds grow in groups of seven. They appear where the leaves meet the stem, which is called the axil. Sometimes, they look like clusters at the ends of the branches. When the buds are ready, they are oval or pear-shaped. They are about 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Each bud has a cap called an operculum.
These groups of buds grow on a flat stalk called a peduncle, which is 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long. Each individual flower has its own small stalk, called a pedicel, about 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long.
The Ponton Creek mallee flowers between July and August. Its flowers are white. After the flowers, the plant produces woody, cone-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The seeds inside are reddish-brown. They are small, about 0.7 to 1.5 mm (0.03 to 0.06 in) long.
How it Got its Name
The Eucalyptus articulata was officially described in 1993. Two scientists, Stephen Hopper and Ian Brooker, first described it. They found a sample of the plant in 1987 in the Great Victoria Desert. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
Meaning of the Name
The second part of its scientific name, articulata, comes from a Latin word. It means "jointed" or "distinct." This name refers to the base of the style of the flower, which looks like it has a joint.
Where it Lives
The Ponton Creek mallee grows in specific types of soil. It can be found in red sandy dunes, rocky areas, and sandy loam. There are only three known groups of these plants left. They are spread out over a distance of about 1.5 to 2 kilometres (0.9 to 1.2 mi).
Population and Location
In total, there are only about 120 Ponton Creek mallee plants remaining. All of these plants are on land that is not owned by anyone specific, called crown land. They are located in the Mulga area of the Great Victoria Desert. This area is part of a larger natural region called a biogeographic region.
Protecting the Ponton Creek Mallee
The Ponton Creek mallee is a very rare plant. In 2008, it was listed as a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming extinct. This listing was made under a law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Threats to the Plant
The plant is also listed as "Threatened Flora" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia). The biggest danger to this plant is wildfires that happen too often or at the wrong time. Scientists are not sure if the plant can survive fires well. Protecting it from these fires is very important to help it survive.
