Round-leaved gum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Round-leaved gum |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Eucalyptus pantoleuca in the Mueller Ranges | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
|
| Species: |
pantoleuca
|
The Eucalyptus pantoleuca, also known as the round-leaved gum or Panton River white gum, is a special kind of small tree. It grows only in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. This tree has smooth, white, powdery bark. Its adult leaves are mostly round. The flowers grow in groups of three and are white. Its fruit starts out with a whitish, waxy coating and is shaped like a cone.
Contents
How to Spot the Round-leaved Gum
The Eucalyptus pantoleuca is often a bit messy-looking tree. It usually grows to be about 5–12 m (16–39 ft) tall. This tree has a special woody lump at its base called a lignotuber. This helps it regrow after a fire.
Its bark is smooth and powdery white. When new bark appears, it can be pale pink or light orange.
Young plants and new shoots (called coppice regrowth) have stems that are almost square. They have a small wing on each corner. Their leaves are mostly round, about 95–150 mm (3.7–5.9 in) long and 100–155 mm (3.9–6.1 in) wide. These leaves grow in pairs opposite each other.
Adult leaves also grow in opposite pairs. They are mostly round, but can also be triangular or egg-shaped. Both sides of the leaf are a dull, grayish-green color. They are 90–150 mm (3.5–5.9 in) long and 70–160 mm (2.8–6.3 in) wide. They grow on a flat stem called a petiole, which is 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long.
The flower buds grow in the leaf axils (the spot where a leaf meets the stem). They appear in groups of three on a stem called a peduncle, which is 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. The individual buds are either directly attached (called sessile) or have very short stalks (called pedicels).
When the buds are ready, they are oval to spindle-shaped and have a whitish, waxy coating. They are 14–25 mm (0.55–0.98 in) long and 13–22 mm (0.51–0.87 in) wide. Each bud has a rounded cap called an operculum.
This tree flowers in July or November. Its flowers are white or yellow. After flowering, it produces a woody, cone-shaped fruit. This fruit is called a capsule. It also has a whitish, waxy coating at first. The fruit is 9–15 mm (0.35–0.59 in) long and 15–24 mm (0.59–0.94 in) wide. The parts that open to release seeds (called valves) stick out a lot.
How It Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus pantoleuca was first officially described in the year 2000. Two scientists, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill, wrote about it in a science journal called Telopea. Lawrie Johnson had collected samples of the tree near a place called 'Tableland' homestead way back in 1967.
The second part of its scientific name, pantoleuca, comes from ancient Greek words. It means "entirely white". This name perfectly describes its smooth, powdery white bark!
Where Does It Live?
The round-leaved gum is found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It likes to grow along creeks and on hillsides. You can often find it in sandy-loam soil, which is a mix of sand and clay. It prefers low-lying areas or gentle slopes.
Is It Safe?
The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has looked at the round-leaved gum. They have said that this type of eucalypt is "not threatened". This means there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
Images for kids
-
A gum tree base
