Eucalyptus albida

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White-leaved mallee
Eucalyptus albida habit.jpg
Eucalyptus albida at Lake Grace
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. albida
Binomial name
Eucalyptus albida

Eucalyptus albida, commonly known as the white-leaved mallee, [3] is a mallee that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth white or greyish brown bark, lance shaped adult leaves, and flowers in groups of between seven and eleven. The flowers are creamy white and the fruit are hemispherical to cone-shaped. The juvenile leaves that are often retained on mature plants are arranged in opposite pairs, egg-shaped to heart-shaped and bluish grey.

Contents

Hebarium specimen of E. albida Eucalyptus albida Maiden et Blakely (AM AK346879).jpg
Hebarium specimen of E. albida
Juvenile foliage of E. albida Eucalyptus albida juvenile leaves.jpg
Juvenile foliage of E. albida
Flower buds of E. albida Eucalyptus albida buds.jpg
Flower buds of E. albida

Description

Eucalyptus albida is a mallee that typically grows to a height of 1.5 to 4 metres (5 to 10 ft) and has smooth white or greyish brown bark. The leaves on young plants are arranged in opposite pairs, egg-shaped to heart-shaped, the same shade of bluish grey on both sides, 15–40 mm (0.6–2 in) long and 13–35 mm (0.5–1 in) wide. Juvenile leaves are often present on mature plants. The adult leaves are lance-shaped, glossy dark green on both sides, 40–70 mm (2–3 in) long and 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide. [3] [4] [5]

The flower buds are arranged on a branching inflorescence, each branch with groups of between seven and eleven buds on a peduncle 5–15 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long, each bud on a pedicel 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The buds are spindle-shaped with a conical, blunt-tipped operculum 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, about the same length as the floral cup. The flowers are creamy white. Flowering occurs between November and January and the fruit is hemispherical or cone-shaped, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and wide. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus albida was first formally described in 1925 by Joseph Maiden and William Blakely and the description was published in Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales . The type specimen was collected near Harrismith by Charles Gardner. [7] [8] [9] The specific epithet (albida) is taken from the Latin word albidus meaning "whitish" [10] in reference to the colour of the juvenile leaves. [8]

Distribution

White-leaved mallee grows in sand, often with gravel and over laterite, in kwongan and shrubland. It is found from Tammin and Narrogin east to Hyden and Ravensthorpe with a disjunct population near Badgingarra. [5] [6] [11]

Conservation

This eucalypt is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]

Uses

The juvenile leaves or coppice regrowth of this species is used by florists as a filler in dried flower arrangements and is referred to as rustle gum. [5] The plant is drought and frost resistant in cultivation. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Eucalyptus polybractea, commonly known as the blue-leaved mallee or simply blue mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the lower part of the trunk, smooth greyish or brownish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

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

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

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

Eucalyptus horistes is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, often with rough, firm fibrous bark on the base or all of the trunk, lance-shaped to elliptic adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and thirteen, creamy white flowers and short cylindrical to shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus apiculata, commonly known as the narrow-leaved mallee ash and is a mallee that is endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth white or greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three to seven, white flowers and urn-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus foecunda, commonly known as narrow-leaved red mallee, Fremantle mallee or coastal dune mallee, is a species of plant in the myrtle family that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough bark on the trunk, smooth bark above, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of nine or eleven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped fruit. It was previously included with the more widespread Eucalyptus leptophylla.

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

Eucalyptus socialis, commonly known as the red mallee, or grey mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to inland Australia.

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

Eucalyptus cooperiana, commonly known as the many-flowered mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to an area along the south coast of Western Australia. It is described as being "of striking appearance by reason of its smooth, white bark and acutely angled branchlets". It has lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and thirteen or more, creamy yellow flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus gamophylla, commonly known as warilu, blue-leaved mallee, twin-leaf mallee, twin-leaved mallee or blue mallee, is a species of mallee that is native to Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It usually has smooth bark, mostly only juvenile leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of three, whitish flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit that is four-sided in cross-section.

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

Eucalyptus incrassata, commonly known as the lerp mallee, yellow mallee, ridge fruited mallee or rib fruited mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough, ribbony bark near the base, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white, pale yellow, sometimes pink or red flowers, and cylindrical, barrel-shaped or bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus lucasii, commonly known as Barlee box, is a species of mallee that is endemic to central Western Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes rough near the base, with broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds mostly in groups of between seven and eleven on a branched peduncle, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus lucens, commonly known as the shiny-leaved mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to northwestern Australia. It has small, pale greyish to brown bark, glistening, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven on a branching peduncle, creamy white flowers and conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus pachyphylla, commonly known as thick-leaved mallee or the red-budded mallee, is a species of mallee that is native to inland Australia. It has smooth bark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three with five prominent ribs on each bud, and broad, shallow, conical to hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus platycorys, commonly known as Boorabbin mallee, is a species of mallee, rarely a small tree, that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, dark grey, fibrous and flaky bark on the trunk, smooth greyish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in group of three, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus sheathiana, commonly known as ribbon-barked gum, is a species of tree or a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark that is shed in long ribbons, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and conical to cup-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus striaticalyx, commonly known as Cue York gum or kopi gum, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and thirteen, creamy white flowers and conical to cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus uncinata</i> Species of grass

Eucalyptus uncinata, commonly known as the hook-leaved mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of nine to thirteen, creamy white flowers and barrel-shaped to oval or cylindrical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus calcareana, commonly known as the Nundroo mallee or Nundroo gum, is a mallee or a small tree that is endemic to the south coast of Australia. It has smooth, greyish or cream-coloured bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, creamy-white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus cyanophylla, commonly known as the Murraylands mallee, blue-leaved mallee or ghost mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has mostly smooth bark, greyish blue, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical, cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

References

  1. Fensham, R., Laffineur, B. & Collingwood, T. 2019. Eucalyptus albida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T133374706A133374708. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133374706A133374708.en. Downloaded on 20 September 2021.
  2. "Eucalyptus albida". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Chippendale, George McCartney. "Eucalyptus albida". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. 1 2 Chippendale, George McCartney; George, Alex S. (ed.) (1988). Flora of Australia (Volume 19). Canberra: Australian Government Printing Service. p. 284. ISBN   0644058668.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus albida". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus albida". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. "Eucalyptus albida". APNI. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  8. 1 2 Maiden, Joseph; Blakely, William (1925). "Descriptions of sixteen new species of Eucalypts". Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 59: 175–177. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  9. Gardner, Charles Austin (1961). "Trees of Western Australia". Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia. 2 (1): 96. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  10. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 856.
  11. Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia. Dural, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 123. ISBN   9781877058844.
  12. "Eucalyptus albida Common Name: White-leaved Mallee". Goldfields Revegetation Plant Catalogue. Goldfields Revegetation. Retrieved 6 January 2016.