Scaly butt mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scaly butt mallee |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
leprophloia
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The Eucalyptus leprophloia, often called the scaly butt mallee, is a special kind of mallee tree. It is a type of Eucalyptus plant. This tree is found only in a small area of Western Australia. It gets its common name, "scaly butt," from the rough, flaky bark at the bottom of its trunk.
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What the Scaly Butt Mallee Looks Like
The scaly butt mallee is a small tree that usually grows to be about 2 to 5 meters (6 to 16 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow after fires.
The bark at the bottom of the trunk is rough and fibrous. It is usually greyish-brown. Higher up, the bark is smooth and can be grey or a pale copper color.
When the plant is young, its leaves are oval or egg-shaped. They are about 50 to 85 millimeters (2 to 3.3 inches) long and 25 to 40 millimeters (1 to 1.6 inches) wide. These young leaves have a small stem called a petiole.
Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are shaped like a spear, about 70 to 105 millimeters (2.8 to 4.1 inches) long and 15 to 30 millimeters (0.6 to 1.2 inches) wide. They also have a petiole, which is about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) long.
The flowers grow in groups of seven, nine, or eleven. These groups are found where the leaves meet the stem. Each group of flowers grows on a flat, short stalk called a peduncle, which is 3 to 10 millimeters (0.1 to 0.4 inches) long. Each individual flower bud has its own tiny stem, called a pedicel, about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long.
Mature flower buds are oval-shaped. They are about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) wide. Each bud has a rounded cap on top, called an operculum.
The scaly butt mallee flowers from August to October. Its flowers are white. After flowering, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cup or a barrel. They are about 5 to 6 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 6 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. The parts that open to release seeds are level with the rim of the fruit.
How the Scaly Butt Mallee Got Its Name
Scientists Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper first officially described the Eucalyptus leprophloia in 1993. They found a sample of the tree near Badgingarra in 1986. Their description was published in a science journal called Nuytsia.
The scientific name, leprophloia, comes from ancient Greek words. "Lepros" means "scaly," and "phloia" (or "phloios") means "bark." So, the name perfectly describes the tree's scaly bark.
Where the Scaly Butt Mallee Lives
The scaly butt mallee is only found in a specific area of Western Australia. It grows from near Badgingarra up to the Mount Adams area.
This tree can be found in different places. It grows on hill slopes and in gentle valleys. It often shares its home with other trees like powderbark wandoo and coastal blackbutt.
Protecting the Scaly Butt Mallee
The scaly butt mallee is considered "endangered" by the Australian Government. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever. Because of this, a plan has been made to help it recover.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) also lists it as "Threatened Flora." This is a special list for rare plants that need protection.
Many of these trees grow on private land, especially farms. This means they face several dangers from farming activities. These threats include:
- Plowing the land
- Using fertilizers and weed killers (herbicides)
- Animals like livestock and rabbits eating the plants
- Clearing land for other uses
- Fires that happen too often or at the wrong time
Efforts are being made to protect this unique Australian tree.
