Prince Regent gum facts for kids

The Prince Regent gum (scientific name: Eucalyptus rupestris) is a special kind of small tree. It grows only in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This tree has smooth bark, unique leaves, and pretty white flowers. It also produces interesting cup-shaped fruits.

What Does the Prince Regent Gum Look Like?

The Prince Regent gum is a tree that usually grows to be about 4 to 8 meters (about 13 to 26 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like by a bushfire.

Its bark is smooth and can be white or grey. When the bark is new, it often looks pale orange and feels powdery.

Leaves and Flowers

Young Prince Regent gum plants have leaves that are egg-shaped or round. These leaves are about 50 to 70 millimeters (2 to 2.8 inches) long and 35 to 80 millimeters (1.4 to 3.1 inches) wide. They have a stalk, which is called a petiole.

As the tree grows, its adult leaves change. They are arranged alternately along the branches. Both sides of the leaves are a dull green color. They can be egg-shaped or broadly lance-shaped. These adult leaves are about 37 to 75 millimeters (1.5 to 3 inches) long and 10 to 25 millimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) wide. They also have a petiole, which is about 8 to 18 millimeters (0.3 to 0.7 inches) long.

The tree's flower buds usually grow in groups of seven. They are found where the leaves meet the stem (this spot is called a leaf axil). Sometimes, these buds are clustered near the ends of the branches. Each group of buds sits on a small stalk called a peduncle, which is about 3 to 5 millimeters long. The individual buds also have tiny stalks, called pedicels, up to 2 millimeters long.

Mature buds are oval or cylindrical, about 4 millimeters long and 3 millimeters wide. They have a cap-like structure on top called an operculum. The Prince Regent gum flowers between May and August, and its flowers are white.

Fruits

After flowering, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are like small cups or cylinders, about 3 to 5 millimeters long and 3 to 4 millimeters wide. They are a type of dry fruit called a capsule. The parts that open to release the seeds are usually level with the rim of the fruit.

How the Prince Regent Gum Got Its Name

The scientific name for this tree, Eucalyptus rupestris, was first officially described in 1986. It was named by two scientists, Ian Brooker and Christopher Charles Done. They studied a sample collected by Alex George in 1974 from the Prince Regent River Reserve.

The second part of its scientific name, rupestris, comes from a Latin word. It means "rocky." This name was chosen because the Prince Regent gum is usually found growing in rocky areas.

Where Does the Prince Regent Gum Live?

The Prince Regent gum grows in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It likes to grow in sandy soil on top of sandstone ridges. You can find it near rivers like the Prince Regent River, Mitchell River, and in Drysdale River National Park.

Is the Prince Regent Gum Safe?

Good news! The Prince Regent gum is currently considered "not threatened" in Western Australia. This means that the Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife believes there are enough of these trees in the wild, and they are not at risk of disappearing.