South Australian grey mallee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Australian grey mallee |
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| Eucalyptus flindersii near Wilpena Pound | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eucalyptus
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| Species: |
flindersii
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The Eucalyptus flindersii, often called the South Australian grey mallee, mallee red gum, or just grey mallee, is a special type of tree or shrub. It is found only in South Australia, meaning it is endemic there. This plant usually has smooth, pinkish-grey bark. Its adult leaves are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. You'll find its flower buds growing in small groups of three or seven. The fruit looks like a cone or a half-sphere, with parts sticking out.
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What is the South Australian Grey Mallee?
The Eucalyptus flindersii is usually a mallee, which means it's a type of eucalyptus that grows with many stems from the ground, like a bush. Sometimes, it can grow into a small tree. It typically reaches a height of 1 to 5 meters (about 3 to 16 feet). Its bark is usually smooth and a dull grey color. This bark peels off in flakes, showing a lighter layer underneath. Sometimes, the bark at the bottom of the trunk can be rough.
Leaves and Stems
Young plants and new shoots that grow after a plant has been cut back (called coppice regrowth) have stems that are somewhat square. Their leaves have stalks and are shaped like an egg, measuring 45 to 110 mm (about 1.8 to 4.3 inches) long and 25 to 70 mm (about 1 to 2.8 inches) wide.
Adult leaves are the same dull to slightly shiny green or blue-green color on both sides. They are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved, growing 55 to 180 mm (about 2.2 to 7.1 inches) long and 10 to 30 mm (about 0.4 to 1.2 inches) wide. These leaves sit on a stalk (called a petiole) that is 10 to 38 mm (about 0.4 to 1.5 inches) long.
Flowers and Fruit
The flower buds grow in the leaf axils (the angle between a leaf and the stem). They appear in groups of three or seven on a stem called a peduncle, which is 4 to 18 mm (about 0.16 to 0.71 inches) long. The individual buds either sit directly on the stem (sessile) or have very short stalks (pedicels) up to 5 mm (about 0.2 inches) long.
When the buds are ready to open, they are oval-shaped, 7 to 13 mm (about 0.28 to 0.51 inches) long and 4 to 6 mm (about 0.16 to 0.24 inches) wide. They have a rounded or cone-shaped cap called an operculum. The South Australian grey mallee flowers between August and October, and its flowers are white.
After flowering, the plant produces a woody fruit. This fruit is a capsule shaped like a half-sphere or a cone. It is 3 to 70 mm (about 0.12 to 2.76 inches) long and 4 to 10 mm (about 0.16 to 0.39 inches) wide. The parts that release the seeds (called valves) stick out above the rim of the fruit.
How the South Australian Grey Mallee Got Its Name
The Eucalyptus flindersii was officially described for the first time in 1980 by a scientist named Clifford David Boomsma. He wrote about it in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. He studied a plant sample collected by Roger Callen on Mount Hack, which is in the Flinders Ranges.
The plant's scientific name, flindersii, honors Captain Matthew Flinders. The Flinders Ranges, where this plant grows, were also named after him.
Where Does the South Australian Grey Mallee Live?
The South Australian grey mallee grows on slopes and among rocks. It prefers open woodlands. You can find it mainly in the Flinders Ranges. However, some plants are also found further south near towns like Yunta and Quorn.
