Corymbia terminalis

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Tjuta
Corymbia terminalis habit.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Corymbia
Species:
C. terminalis
Binomial name
Corymbia terminalis
CorymbiaterminalisDistributionMap.png
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium (including that of C. opaca
Synonyms [1]
  • Corymbia tumescensK.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson
  • Eucalyptus pyrophora Benth.
  • Eucalyptus pyrophoraBenth. f. pyrophora
  • Eucalyptus pyrophoraBenth. var. pyrophora
  • Eucalyptus terminalisF.Muell.
  • Eucalyptus centralisauct. non D.J.Carr & S.G.M.Carr: Robson, Peter J.
  • Eucalyptus polycarpaauct. non F.Muell.: Blakely, W.F.
  • Eucalyptus pyrophora var. polycarpaauct. non (F.Muell.) Maiden: Maiden, J.H.
Bloodwood bleeding Bloodwood Bleeding.jpg
Bloodwood bleeding
Bloodwood tree in Karijini National Park Bloodwood Tree.jpg
Bloodwood tree in Karijini National Park
Corymbia terminalis foliage and buds Corymbia terminalis buds.jpg
Corymbia terminalis foliage and buds

Corymbia terminalis, also known as tjuta, joolta, bloodwood, desert bloodwood, plains bloodwood, northern bloodwood, western bloodwood or inland bloodwood, [2] [3] 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.

Description

Corymbia terminalis is a tree that typically grows to a height of 18 metres (59 ft), rarely a mallee, and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, tessellated light brown to light grey bark on part or all of the trunk, sometimes extending to the larger branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped to elliptical or lance-shaped leaves that are 60–170 mm (2.4–6.7 in) long, 12–45 mm (0.47–1.77 in) wide, tapering to a petiole and arranged in opposite pairs. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of grey-green on both sides, lance-shaped, 80–200 mm (3.1–7.9 in) long and 12–30 mm (0.47–1.18 in) wide on a petiole 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long. [4] [5] [6]

The flower buds are arranged on the ends of branchlets on a branched peduncle 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long, each branch of the peduncle with seven buds on pedicels 2–13 mm (0.079–0.512 in) long. Mature buds are scurfy, oval to pear-shaped, greenish to brown or cream-coloured, 6–14 mm (0.24–0.55 in) long, 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide with a conical, rounded or flattened operculum. Flowering occurs between March and October and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody urn-shaped capsule 15–31 mm (0.59–1.22 in) long and 12–22 mm (0.47–0.87 in) wide on a pedicel 2–12 mm (0.079–0.472 in) long and with the valves enclosed in the fruit. The seeds are light brown or reddish brown, 9–12 mm (0.35–0.47 in) long with a wing on the end. [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Tjuta was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller and given the name Eucalyptus terminalis. The description was published in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany from samples collected from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory in 1856. [4] [7] [8] In 1995, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson changed the name to Corymbia terminalis, publishing the change in the journal Telopea . [4] [6] [9]

In the same paper, Hill and John described C. terminalis, C. opaca and C. tumescens as distinct species with intergrades between them. The Australian Plant Census regards C. tumescens as a synonym but it is considered by the National Herbarium of New South Wales to be distinct. [1] [6] [9] [10]

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word terminalis meaning terminal in reference to the placement of the inflorescences on the branchlets outside the crown. [4]

Distribution and habitat

This eucalypt occurs in arid and seasonally dry areas of the Northern Territory, Queensland, the north-west of New South Wales and the extreme north of South Australia. Corymbia opaca, sometimes included in C. terminalis, is found in the northern half of Western Australia. [4] [11] The tree typically grows on river flats, scree slopes and dune swales. [11] It prefers well drained soils and is both drought and frost tolerant. [12]

Ecology

The flowers of Corymbia terminalis produce drops of nectar which provide a high energy food source for many desert animals including honeyeaters, insects and possums.

It is also host to an unusual female insect called a coccid. Once the coccid burrows into the bark it forms a gall which it never leaves. Hidden away it sucks sap from the trees veins. The gall that grows on the tree is called the coconut. It must be broken open; the insect on the inside can be eaten, and contains a lot of moisture and a disinfectant. [12]

Indigenous uses

Indigenous Australians used the tree for traditional medicine. The exudate from the trunk or branches was diluted and used as an antiseptic treatment of facial cuts and sores. [13] Larger leaves were useful for staunching wounds. [14]

The red bark kino can be stripped from the tree and mixed in water, then consumed for diarrhoea as well as for indigestion and chest pain. [15]

The wood from the tree was used by indigenous peoples to make spear-throwers, digging bowls and carrying vessels. Europeans used the wood to make fence-posts, joists slabs and buildings as well as using it for firewood. [16]

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 gummifera</i> Species of plant

Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as red bloodwood, is a species of tree, rarely a mallee, that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<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 opaca</i> Species of plant

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.

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

Corymbia tessellaris, commonly known as carbeen or Moreton Bay ash, is a species of tree that is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the lower trunk abruptly changing to smooth, whitish bark above, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cylindrical or urn-shaped fruit

Corymbia hendersonii, commonly known as Henderson's bloodwood, is a species of 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, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped to barrel-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.

<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 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 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.

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

Corymbia hylandii, commonly known as Hyland's bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to part of the Cape York Peninsula. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Corymbia kombolgiensis, commonly known as scarp gum or paper-fruited bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to the Northern Territory. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough, tessellated bark near the base, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, white flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

Corymbia lamprophylla, commonly known as shiny-leaved bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to central Queensland. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-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 nesophila</i> Species of plant

Corymbia nesophila, commonly known as Melville Island bloodwood, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Corymbia petalophylla is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped, urn-shaped or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Corymbia setosa, commonly known as rough leaved bloodwood or desert bloodwood, is a species of small tree that is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated brown bark on the trunk and branches, a crown of juvenile, heart-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and urn-shaped to shortened spherical fruit.

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

Corymbia watsoniana, commonly known as large-fruited yellowjacket, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped or 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 3 "Corymbia terminalis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  2. ↑ Dean Nicolle. "Native Eucalypts of South Australia" . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Corymbia terminalis (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson". FloraNT. Northern Territory Government . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Corymbia terminalis Tjuta, Joolta, Bloodwood, Desert Bloodwood". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  5. 1 2 Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus terminalis". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 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): 323–324. doi: 10.7751/telopea19953017 .
  7. ↑ "Eucalyptus terminalis". APNI. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). "Monograph of the Eucalypti of Tropical Australia". Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany. 3: 89. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Corymbia terminalis". APNI. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Philip Moore 2005 “A Guide to Plants of Inland Australia” Reed New Holland
  11. 1 2 Boland, D.J., Brooker, M.I.H., Chippendale, G.M., Hall, N., Hyland, B.P.M., Johnston, R.D., Kleinig, D.A., McDonald, M.W. & Turner J.D. 1999 "Forest Trees of Australia" CSIRO Publishing
  12. 1 2 "Corymbia terminalis syn. Eucalyptus terminalis". Australian Seed. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Christine A. Jones (March 1998). "The Medicinal Properties and Bush Foods of Eucalypts". The Society for Growing Australian Plants. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Healing Secrets of Aboriginal Bush Medicine". Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Bush Remedies". Native tastes of Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Corymbia terminalis (F.Muell.)K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson". Arid Australian Hardwoods. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
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