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Umbrawarra gum facts for kids

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Umbrawarra gum
Eucalyptus umbrawarrensis.jpg
Eucalyptus umbrawarrensis in Umbrawarra Gorge
Scientific classification
Genus:
Eucalyptus
Species:
umbrawarrensis

Eucalyptus umbrawarrensis, also known as the Umbrawarra gum, is a special kind of tree. It is found only in the Northern Territory of Australia. This tree is small to medium-sized. You can spot it by its smooth, white, powdery bark. It has long, narrow leaves, white flowers, and fruit shaped like a cup or barrel.

What the Umbrawarra Gum Looks Like

The Umbrawarra gum tree usually grows up to 18 m (59 ft) tall. It has smooth, powdery white bark. When the bark is new, it can look pale yellow or even light pink.

Leaves and Flowers

Young plants have egg-shaped leaves. These leaves are about 40 mm (1.6 in) to 100 mm (3.9 in) long and 30 mm (1.2 in) to 65 mm (2.6 in) wide. As the tree gets older, its leaves change. Adult leaves are shiny green on both sides. They are narrow and shaped like a spear, about 60 mm (2.4 in) to 120 mm (4.7 in) long. These leaves have a short stem called a petiole.

The tree's flower buds grow in groups of seven. They are oval or spindle-shaped. Each bud is about 5 mm (0.20 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. The top part of the bud, called the operculum, is shaped like a cone. The Umbrawarra gum has white flowers. You can see them blooming in January and October.

Fruit

After the flowers, the tree grows fruit. The fruit is a woody capsule. It is shaped like a cup or a barrel. These fruits are about 3 mm (0.12 in) to 5 mm (0.20 in) long.

How the Umbrawarra Gum Got Its Name

The Eucalyptus umbrawarrensis was first officially described in 1922. A scientist named Joseph Maiden wrote about it in his book. The tree was found by Harald Jensen in 1916. He found it in a place called Umbrawarra Gorge. The name umbrawarrensis comes from this special place where it was first found.

Where the Umbrawarra Gum Lives

The Umbrawarra gum grows in open woodlands. You can find it on ridges, hills, and flat areas called tablelands. It lives in the Top End and Victoria River districts of the Northern Territory in Australia.

Conservation Status

This type of eucalypt tree is doing well. It is classified as "least concern" by the Northern Territory Government. This means there are enough of these trees, and they are not currently at risk of disappearing.

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