Eucalyptus rodwayi facts for kids

Eucalyptus rodwayi, commonly known as the swamp peppermint, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has rough, fibrous to flaky bark on the trunk and branches, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and conical to hemispherical fruit.

Description

Eucalyptus rodwayi is a tree that typically grows to a height of 20 m (66 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, greyish fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have lance-shaped to elliptical leaves 25–78 mm (0.98–3.07 in) long and 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of glossy green on both sides, narrow lance-shaped or curved, 50–135 mm (2.0–5.3 in) long and 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven, nine or eleven on a peduncle 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, the individual flowers on pedicels 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 2–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) wide with a conical operculum about equal in length to the floral cup. Flowering occurs between December and March and the flowers are white. The fruit is a conical to hemispherical capsule 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with the valves near rim level.

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus rodwayi was first formally described in 1902 by Richard Thomas Baker and Henry George Smith in their book A research on the eucalypts of Tasmania and their essential oils. The specific epithet (rodwayi) honours Leonard Rodway for his contribution to botanical research in Tasmania.

Distribution and habitat

Swamp peppermint grows in poorly-drained areas in valleys from the central plateau to the east coast of Tasmania.