Rough fruited mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rough fruited mallee |
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| Eucalyptus corrugata growing near Southern Cross | |
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Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
corrugata
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The Eucalyptus corrugata, also known as the rough fruited mallee or rib-fruited mallee, is a special type of tree or mallee. It grows only in Western Australia, which means it is endemic there.
This plant has rough, scaly bark on the bottom part of its trunk. Higher up, its bark is smooth. Its adult leaves are shiny and shaped like a spear. The flower buds are very bumpy and grow in groups of three where the leaves meet the stem. The fruit is ribbed and shaped like a cone or cup.
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Eucalyptus corrugata is usually a tree that can grow from 4 to 15 meters (about 13 to 49 feet) tall. Sometimes, it grows as a mallee, which means it has multiple stems from the ground. It also has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after fires.
The bark on the lower 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) of the trunk is rough. It feels fibrous or flaky and is dark brown to grey. Higher up on the trunk and on the branches, the bark is smooth. It looks grey over a pretty salmon pink color.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
Young plants have leaves that are a dull, bluish-green color. These leaves are about 55 to 90 mm long and 25 to 40 mm wide. Adult leaves are arranged one after another along the stem. They are thick and shiny green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or slightly curved. These leaves are about 90 to 130 mm long and 12 to 20 mm wide. Each leaf has a stem (petiole) about 12 to 25 mm long.
The flower buds grow in groups of three. They are found in the "armpits" of the leaves, where the leaf meets the stem. Each group of buds sits on a stalk (peduncle) that is 7 to 18 mm long. Each individual bud has a smaller stalk (pedicel) about 4 to 8 mm long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are pear-shaped or round. They are 10 to 18 mm long and 9 to 13 mm wide. You can see clear ridges or wrinkles along their sides. The cap (operculum) on top of the bud is rounded or flat and 4 to 8 mm long. This eucalypt flowers between October and March, and its flowers are white.
After flowering, the plant produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cup or a cone. They are 7 to 15 mm long and 11 to 18 mm wide. Each fruit sits on a small stalk (pedicel) about 3 to 5 mm long. The fruits have ribs along their sides. The parts that release the seeds (valves) stick out beyond the rim of the fruit.
Where Does It Grow?
The rough-fruited mallee is found in several areas of Western Australia. These areas include the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, and Murchison regions. You can often find it between towns like Westonia, Mount Jackson, Kalgoorlie, and Marvel Loch.
It likes to grow in open woodlands and shrublands. It prefers rocky clay loam soils, which are a mix of clay, sand, and small rocks.
Its Name and Discovery
The scientific name Eucalyptus corrugata was first officially described in 1897. A botanist named Johann George Luehmann gave it this name. He wrote about it in a publication called The Victorian Naturalist. The plant he studied was found near a place called Golden Valley, close to Bullfinch.
The word corrugata comes from Latin. It means "wrinkled" or "ridged." This name refers to the ribbed or bumpy cap (operculum) of the flower buds, which is a key feature of this plant.
Is It Safe?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at this eucalypt. They have classified it as "not threatened." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
