Eucalyptus aggregata

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Black gum
Eucalyptus aggregata habit.jpg
Eucalyptus aggregata at Grabben Gullen
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. aggregata
Binomial name
Eucalyptus aggregata
Synonyms [2]

Eucalyptus rydalensis R.T.Baker & H.G.Sm.

Eucalyptus aggregata, commonly known as black gum, [3] is a medium-sized tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has rough, flaky bark, sometimes smooth on the branches, lance-shaped leaves, green to yellow flower buds in group of seven, white flowers and more or less cup-shaped fruit. It is a component of grassy woodland, often in low-lying or swampy areas, much of which has been cleared and it is under threat.

Contents

Fruit of E. aggragata Eucalyptus aggregata fruit.jpg
Fruit of E. aggragata

Description

Eucalyptus aggregata grows as a medium-sized tree, reaching 18 m (60 ft) in height, with dark grey to black rough bark that is fibrous and flaky on the trunk and smooth whitish, cream-coloured or greyish bark on the uppermost branches. The leaves on young plants vary but are mostly elliptic to egg-shaped or broadly lance-shaped, 40–70 mm (2–3 in) long, 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) wide and a slightly lighter shade of green on the lower side. The adult leaves are lance-shaped, alternately arranged along the stems and measure 50–120 mm (2.0–4.7 in) long by 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) wide. They are the same colour on both surfaces. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven on a peduncle 1–5 mm (0.04–0.2 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel less than 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The buds are oval, green to yellow, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with a cone-shaped or beaked operculum 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long. The flowers are white and appear from November to May. The fruit is cup-shaped to conical, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus aggregata was first formally described by Henry Deane and Joseph Maiden in 1900 from material collected at Wallerawang as the lectotype. [8] The specific epithet (aggregata) is a Latin word meaning "clustered", [9] referring to the fruit. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Black gum is a rare species found from Capertee and Bathurst in central New South Wales, south through central and southern tablelands, with an isolated population near Woodend in Victoria. It has a very patchy and scattered distribution, as much of the land throughout its range has been cleared for agriculture. Eucalyptus aggregata grows in woodland and is associated with candlebark ( Eucalyptus rubida ), ribbon gum ( E. viminalis ), black sally ( E. stellulata ) broad-leaved peppermint ( E. dives ) and snow gum ( E. pauciflora ), with a grassy understory of river tussock ( Poa labillardieri ) and silver top wallaby grass ( Joycea pallida ). The soil is generally poorly drained, alluvial or swampy, with the black gum growing in low-lying areas. These are also natural frost hollows, where cold air persists in the cooler months. It is found at altitudes above 700 metres (2,300 ft), where there are heavy frosts and snow in winter. [3] [4] [10]

Conservation

This species is classed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 . Most of the extant population, estimated at 6300 to 8100 mature trees, are isolated. Their seedlings cannot compete against surrounding weeds. These trees are also threatened by hybridisation with E. viminalis and E. rubida. Climate change may also reduce the extent of frost hollows as the climate warms. [10]

Uses

Although its soft timber is of little use, the species is versatile in that it grows in other areas where few other local species thrive, and can be a useful shade tree with its dense canopy. Its foliage can be used as fodder. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Eucalyptus viminalis</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus viminalis, commonly known as the manna gum, white gum or ribbon gum, is a species of small to very tall tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough bark near the base, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus melliodora</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus melliodora, commonly known as yellow box, honey box or yellow ironbark, is a species of medium-sized to occasionally tall tree that is endemic to south-eastern, continental Australia. It has rough, flaky or fibrous bark on part or all of the trunk, smooth greyish to yellowish bark above. The adult leaves are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, the flower buds are arranged in groups of seven and the fruit is more or less hemispherical.

<i>Eucalyptus olsenii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus olsenii, commonly known as the Woila gum, is a species of small tree that is endemic to a restricted area on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. It has smooth bark with rough bark on the lower trunk, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped or urn-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus moluccana</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus moluccana, commonly known as the grey box, gum-topped box or terriyergro, is a medium-sized to tall tree with rough bark on part or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit. It is found in near-coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales.

<i>Eucalyptus leucoxylon</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus leucoxylon, commonly known as yellow gum, blue gum or white ironbark, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has smooth yellowish bark with some rough bark near the base, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three and cylindrical, barrel-shaped or shortened spherical fruit. A widely cultivated species, it has white, red or pink flowers.

<i>Eucalyptus rubida</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus rubida, commonly known as candlebark, ribbon gum or white gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough bark at the base, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus largiflorens</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus largiflorens, or black box or river box, is a tree that is endemic to Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark, dull greenish-grey, lance-shaped leaves, oval to club-shaped green to yellow flower buds, white flowers and hemispherical, cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus rossii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus rossii, commonly known as inland scribbly gum or white gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has smooth bark with insect scribbles, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus longifolia</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus longifolia, commonly known as woollybutt, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thick, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical or hemispherical fruit. The drooping flower heads in groups of three are a distinguishing feature. It grows in heavy soils often near water.

<i>Eucalyptus dawsonii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus dawsonii, known as slaty gum or slaty box, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It has smooth, white, grey or yellow bark, sometimes with a short stocking of rough, flaky bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven on a branching inflorescence, white flowers and conical to barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus angophoroides</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus angophoroides, commonly known as the apple-topped box, apple box or apple gum, is a tree endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, flaky or fibrous bark on its trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, white flowers and conical to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus parvula</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus parvula, commonly known as small-leaved gum, is a species of small tree that is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It has mostly smooth bark, elliptical to lance-shaped adult leaves but with many juvenile of intermediate leaves in the crown, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus kartzoffiana</i> Species of tree

Eucalyptus kartzoffiana, commonly known as the Araluen gum, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to a small area of southeastern New South Wales. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on part or most of its trunk, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and sessile, bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus benthamii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus benthamii, commonly known as Camden white gum, Bentham's gum, Nepean River gum, kayer-ro or durrum-by-ang, is a species of tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has mostly smooth bluish grey or white bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, bell-shaped or conical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus fasciculosa</i> Species of eucalypt tree

Eucalyptus fasciculosa, commonly known as pink gum, hill gum or scrub gum, is a species of small tree that is endemic to southern Australia. It has mostly smooth, light grey to pinkish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical to barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus denticulata</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus denticulata, commonly known as the Errinundra shining gum or shining gum, is a species of tree endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has mostly smooth, white bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves with toothed edges, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or cylindrical fruits. It is similar to E. nitens and was previously included in that species.

<i>Eucalyptus chloroclada</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus chloroclada, commonly known as Baradine gum, red gum or dirty gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has fibrous to flaky bark on the trunk and smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus dunnii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus dunnii, commonly known as Dunn's white gum or simply white gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough bark near the base, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, conical or hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus intertexta</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus intertexta, commonly known as inland red box, western red box, gum coolibah or the bastard coolibah, is a species of tree that is endemic to central Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the base of the trunk, smooth white to brownish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven on the ends of branchlets, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus petiolaris</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus petiolaris, commonly known as Eyre Peninsula blue gum, water gum or blue gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to South Australia. It is also naturalised in Western Australia. It has rough, flaky bark on the trunk, smooth greyish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, cream-coloured, yellow, pink or red flowers and cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

References

  1. ↑ Fensham, R.; Laffineur, B.; Collingwood, T. (2019). "Eucalyptus aggregata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T133377678A133377680. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133377678A133377680.en . Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Eucalyptus aggregata". APNI. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Hill, Ken. "New South Wales Flora Online: Eucalyptus aggregata". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1992). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 4: Eu-Go. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 16. ISBN   0-85091-213-X.
  5. ↑ Brooker, M. Ian; Slee, Andrew V. "Eucalyptus aggregata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Eucalyptus aggregata". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Chippendale, George McCartney. "Eucalyptus aggragata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Eucalyptus aggregata". APNI. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  9. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 407.
  10. 1 2 Major, Richard (28 February 2011). "Eucalyptus aggregata - proposed vulnerable species listing". Environment & Heritage. New South Wales Government. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
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