Two-winged gimlet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Two-winged gimlet
Eucalyptus diptera near Salmon Gums
Scientific classification
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	diptera

buds

fruit

The Eucalyptus diptera, also known as the two-winged gimlet, is a special type of tree. It's called a "mallet" because it grows as a single-stemmed tree without a large woody base (lignotuber) that can regrow after fire. This tree is found only in the southwest part of Western Australia, which means it's endemic to that area.

This unique eucalypt has smooth bark that can be green or brown. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flower buds grow in groups of three. Each bud has two cool "wings" on its sides. When it blooms, you'll see creamy white to pale yellow flowers. The fruit, which is shaped like a cup, also has these two wings.

What Does the Two-Winged Gimlet Look Like?

The two-winged gimlet is a medium-sized tree. It usually grows about 3 to 8 meters tall, but some can reach up to 15 meters. Its bark is very smooth and shiny, often spiraling around the trunk with shades of green and brown. Unlike some other eucalypts, it doesn't have a lignotuber, which is a woody swelling at the base that helps trees regrow after a fire.

Leaves and Flowers

Young two-winged gimlet plants have dull, bluish-green leaves. These leaves are broad and shaped like a spear, about 5 to 8 centimeters long. As the tree gets older, its adult leaves become glossy green, narrower, and longer, typically 6 to 12 centimeters long.

The flower buds are quite interesting. They grow in groups of three right where the leaves meet the stem. Each bud is oval-shaped, about 8 to 15 millimeters long, and has two distinct wings along its sides. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is cone-shaped.

This tree blooms between February and May, or sometimes in August and September. Its flowers are a beautiful creamy white, pale lemon, or yellow-green color.

Fruit of the Gimlet Tree

After flowering, the tree produces woody fruits. These fruits are shaped like a cup or half-sphere, about 5 to 9 millimeters long. Just like the buds, the fruits also have two wings on their sides, which is how the tree gets its "two-winged" name!

How Was the Two-Winged Gimlet Named?

The Eucalyptus diptera was first officially described by a scientist named Cecil Rollo Payton Andrews. He found a sample of the tree flowering north of Esperance. His description was published in a science journal.

The name diptera comes from two ancient Greek words: di- which means "two," and pteron which means "wing." This name perfectly describes the two wings found on the flower buds and the fruit of this tree.

What Are Gimlets?

The two-winged gimlet is one of nine types of trees known as "gimlets." These trees are famous for their smooth, shiny, and often twisted trunks. Like other mallet eucalypts, the two-winged gimlet does not have a lignotuber. This means that if an adult tree is destroyed by fire, it has to regrow from seeds, not from its base.

Where Does the Two-Winged Gimlet Grow?

You can find this special gimlet tree growing in flat, inland areas of Western Australia. It often grows in open shrublands or in dense groups called thickets. Its main home is in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions, stretching between Lake Grace and Norseman.

Is the Two-Winged Gimlet Protected?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Eucalyptus diptera as "not threatened." This means it's not currently at risk of disappearing.

How Can We Use This Tree?

The two-winged gimlet is a popular plant for gardens and landscaping. It's sold commercially because it makes a great ornamental tree or a shade tree. It likes to grow in full sunlight and can handle dry conditions (drought) and some moderate frost. It can even grow well in areas near the coast.