Corymbia opaca

Last updated

Desert bloodwood
Corymbia opaca habit.jpg
Corymbia opaca in Central Australia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Corymbia
Species:
C. opaca
Binomial name
Corymbia opaca
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus centralisD.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr
  • Eucalyptus opacaD.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr
  • Eucalyptus orientalisD.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr
  • Corymbia eremaea subsp. eremaea'' auct. non (D.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson
  • Eucalyptus terminalisauct. non F.Muell.
  • Eucalyptus terminalisauct. non F.Muell.
flower buds and flowers Corymbia opaca buds.jpg
flower buds and flowers
fruit Corymbia capsules.jpg
fruit
A bloodwood tree "bleeding" sap Bloodwood Bleeding.jpg
A bloodwood tree "bleeding" sap

Corymbia opaca, also known as desert bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough bark on part or all of the trunk, lance-shaped leaves, club-shaped flower buds and urn-shaped fruit. Several parts of this plant are used by Aboriginal Australians in traditional medicine.

Contents

Description

Corymbia opaca is a tree, rarely a mallee, that typically grows to a height of 3–15 m (9.8–49.2 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, tessellated, reddish brown bark over some or all of its trunk. Young plants and coppice regrowth have petiolate, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves, 40–90 mm (1.6–3.5 in) long and 11–28 mm (0.43–1.10 in) wide, with a small point on the tip. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of green or greyish green on both sides, lance-shaped, 110–190 mm (4.3–7.5 in) long and 14–32 mm (0.55–1.26 in) wide with a petiole 13–25 mm (0.51–0.98 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven on an unbranched, cylindrical peduncle 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) long. Mature buds are club-shaped, with an oval floral cup about 7 mm (0.28 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide and a saucer-shaped operculum that has a central point and is about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) wide. The flowers are creamy white and the fruit is an urn-shaped capsule 16–24 mm (0.63–0.94 in) long and 12–16 mm (0.47–0.63 in) wide. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

The desert bloodwood was first formally described in 1985 by Denis John Carr and Stella Grace Maisie Carr who gave it the name Eucalyptus opaca and published the description in their book Eucalyptus 1 - New or little-known species of the Corymbosae. [5] The type specimens were collected in 1983 from the Lasseter Highway near Kata Tjuta. In 1995, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson changed the name to Corymbia opaca, publishing the change in the journal Telopea . [4] [6] [7] The specific epithet (opaca) is derived from the Latin word opacus meaning "darkened, dull, not shining or opaque". [8]

Some authors and herbaria accept C. opaca as a distinct species and others consider it to be inseparable from C. terminalis and C. tumescens. [9] To the extent that the species can be reliably differentiated, C. terminalis has thinner leaves, larger buds and fruit and thicker pedicels than C. opaca. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Corymbia opaca occurs in scattered population in desert areas of the southwest Kimberley, Pilbara and northern desert regions of Western Australia, in central and southern parts of the Northern Territory (particularly around Alice Springs) and in the Mann and Musgrave Ranges in the far northwest of South Australia. It commonly grows in sandy soils in alluvial areas and on lower hillslopes. [7] [10] [11]

Conservation status

This eucalypt is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife and as "least concern" in South Australia. [3] [12]

Use in bush medicine

Occasionally a bloodwood tree will shed a piece of bark, hence opening a "wound" through which a blood-like kino will flow. The sap flows until it crystallises, covering up the hole in the bark. Australian Aboriginals collect this substance as bush medicine. They apply the sticky gum directly to sores or cuts and it works as an antiseptic. If the sap is in a dried form, it can be crushed into powder and boiled in water to use as an antiseptic wash. [13]

Another use of the bloodwood sap by Aboriginal people is to tan "kangaroo-skin waterbags". [10]

People collect bush coconuts (a type of bush tucker) from the tree, which are produced by an insect in gall. [10]

The roots of the bloodwood tree store water. Aboriginal peoples would dig up the roots and drain the water into a container. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Corymbia abergiana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia abergiana, commonly known as range bloodwood or Rockingham Bay bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark on the smaller branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit with a very thick rim.

<i>Corymbia polycarpa</i> Species of plant

Corymbia polycarpa, also known as long-fruited bloodwood or small-flowered bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. Indigenous Australians of different language groups have different names for the tree. The Nungali peoples know the tree as narrga or gunjid, the Mulluk-Mulluk know it as dawart, the Yangman know it as bodog, the Gurindji peoples as jadburru and the Wagiman as jagatjjin. It is a medium-sized tree with rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white or cream-coloured flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia aparrerinja</i> Species of plant

Corymbia aparrerinja, commonly known as ghost gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to Central Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Corymbia terminalis</i> Species of plant

Corymbia terminalis, also known as tjuta, joolta, bloodwood, desert bloodwood, plains bloodwood, northern bloodwood, western bloodwood or inland bloodwood, is a species of small to medium-sized tree, rarely a mallee that is endemic to Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on some or all of the trunk, sometimes also on the larger branches, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia trachyphloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia trachyphloia, commonly known as brown bloodwood, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk, often also on the larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia zygophylla</i> Species of plant

Corymbia zygophylla, commonly known as the Broome bloodwood, is a species of small tree or a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, tessellated to fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, a crown of juvenile heart-shaped to lance-shaped, stem-clasping leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and urn-shaped to shortened spherical fruit.

Corymbia arnhemensis, commonly known as Katherine Gorge bloodwood, is a species of slender tree that is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory. It has rough bark on some or all of the trunk, sometimes the larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia bleeseri</i> Species of plant

Corymbia bleeseri, commonly known as glossy-leaved bloodwood or smooth-stemmed bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has thin, rough bark on part or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia chippendalei</i> Species of plant

Corymbia chippendalei, commonly known as sand-dune bloodwood or sandhill bloodwood, is a species of small tree or a mallee that is endemic to desert country in central Australia. It has rough bark on part or all of the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and shortened spherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia collina</i> Species of plant

Corymbia collina, commonly known as silver-leaved bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thin patchy rough bark on some or all of the trunk, smooth white to pale grey bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia dichromophloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia dichromophloia, commonly known as small-fruited bloodwood, variably-barked bloodwood or gum-topped bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth white bark sometimes with flaky bark on the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia eremaea</i> Species of plant

Corymbia eremaea, commonly known as mallee bloodwood, hill bloodwood and Centre Range bloodwood, is a small, mallee-like tree that is endemic to central Australia. Indigenous Australians know the plant as muur-muurpa. It has rough, evenly tessellated bark, lance-shaped leaves, oval to pear-shaped flower buds arranged on a branching peduncle and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia erythrophloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia erythrophloia, commonly known as red bloodwood, variable-barked bloodwood, red-barked bloodwood or gum-topped bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough bark on the trunk and branches, egg-shaped or lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped to spherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia ferriticola</i> Species of plant

Corymbia ferriticola, commonly known as Pilbara ghost gum, is a species of tree or a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and shortened spherical to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Corymbia ferruginea</i> Species of plant

Corymbia ferruginea, commonly known as rusty bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, a crown of sessile juvenile leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, pale creamy yellow flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia foelscheana</i> Species of plant

Corymbia foelscheana, commonly known as broad-leaved bloodwood, fan-leaved bloodwood or smooth-barked bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has thin, rough, tessellated bark on some or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, broadly egg-shaped to broadly lance- shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Corymbia clandestina, commonly known as Drummond Range bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Corymbia lenziana, commonly known as narrow-leaved bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, narrow lance-shaped to linear leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and shortened spherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia umbonata</i> Species of plant

Corymbia umbonata, commonly known as rusty bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory. It has thin, rough bark on the trunk, often also the branches, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Corymbia xanthope, commonly known as Glen Geddes bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to a small area of Queensland. It has thick, rough bark on the trunk and branches with yellow bark visible underneath, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Corymbia opaca". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. ↑ Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus opaca". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Corymbia opaca". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. 1 2 Hill, Kenneth D.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (1995). "Systematic studies in the eucalypts. 7. A revision of the bloodwoods, genus Corymbia (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 6 (2–3): 318–320. doi: 10.7751/telopea19953017 .
  5. ↑ "Eucalyptus opaca". APNI. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Corymbia opaca". APNI. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Philip Moore 2005 “A Guide to Plants of Inland Australia” Reed New Holland
  8. ↑ Stearn, William T. (1992). Botanical Latin (4 ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p.  457. ISBN   0881923214.
  9. ↑ "Corymbia terminalis". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Nature Notes - Desert Bloodwood Tree". Alice Springs Desert Park. Archived from the original on 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  11. ↑ Purdie. J., Materne. C., Bubb. A, 2008 “A Field Guide to Plants of the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory” Barkly Landcare and Conservation Association Incorporated
  12. ↑ "Corymbia opaca (Myrtaceae)". Seeds of South Australia. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Desert Bush Medicine". Alice Springs Desert Park. Archived from the original on 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  14. ↑ "Kwatye — water". Alice Springs Desert Park. Archived from the original on 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.