Eucalyptus alligatrix

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Eucalyptus alligatrix
Eucalyptus alligatrix Gardenology.org-IMG 9342 rbgm10dec.jpg
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. alligatrix
Binomial name
Eucalyptus alligatrix

Eucalyptus alligatrix, commonly known as the silver stringybark, [3] is a tree endemic to southeastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually arranged in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped, bell-shaped or cone-shaped fruit.

Contents

E. alligatrix flower buds Eucalyptus alligatrix buds.jpg
E. alligatrix flower buds

Description

Eucalyptus alligatrix is a tree that sometimes grows to a height of 30 m (98.4 ft). It has thick, fibrous, furrowed bark on the trunk and branches. The leaves on young plants and on coppice regrowth are arranged in opposite pairs, broadly egg-shaped to more or less round, 20–45 millimetres (0.8–1.8 in) long, 25–50 mm (1.0–2.0 in) wide and lack a petiole. Juvenile leaves are also dull bluish green with a whitish bloom. Adult leaves are bluish green, lance-shaped, often curved, 55–200 millimetres (2.2–7.9 in) long and 10–28 mm (0.4–1.1 in) wide on a petiole 10–20 millimetres (0.4–0.8 in) long. [4] [5] [6]

The flowers buds are usually arranged in groups of three, sometimes seven, in leaf axils. The groups are on a peduncle 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long, individual buds on a pedicel up to 2 mm (0.1 in) long. The buds are diamond-shaped to spindle-shaped, 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The operculum is cone-shaped and slightly shorter than the floral cup. The flowers are white and the fruit is a woody, cup-shaped, bell-shaped or cone-shaped capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) wide. [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus alligatrix was first formally described in 1991 by Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill from a specimen collected south-west of Jamieson. The description was published in the journal Telopea . [7] The specific epithet (alligatrix) is the feminine form of the Latin word alligator meaning "one who binds", [8] hence "she who binds together", referring to the characteristics of this species that are intermediate between those of E. cinerea and E. cephalocarpa . [9]

In 1995, Ian Brooker and Andrew Slee described three subspecies and published the descriptions in Australian Systematic Botany :

Distribution and habitat

This eucalypt grows in woodland, often regenerating in previously cleared paddocks.

Conservation

Subspecies limaensis and miscella are both classified as "Vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The main threats to Lima stringybark include ringbarking of trees by livestock, soil degradation, weed invasion and grazing. A recovery plan for the subspecies has been prepared. [16] Subspecies miscella is only known from a single grazing property near Rylstone where regeneration is minimal. The main threats to this subspecies include grazing by domestic livestock, clearing and habitat disruption due to human activities, inappropriate fire regimes and small population size. [17]

Related Research Articles

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Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as alpine ash, gum-topped stringybark, white-top and in Victoria as woollybutt, is a species of tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has a straight trunk with rough, fibrous to stringy bark on the lower half of the trunk, smooth white bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus globoidea, commonly known as the white stringybark, is a tree that is endemic to near-coastal areas of south-eastern Australia. It has rough, stringy bark, often furrowed on the trunk, glossy, lance-shaped to egg-shaped, often curved leaves, oval to spindle-shaped green to yellowish flower buds, white flowers and small, more or less spherical to hemispherical fruit.

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

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

Eucalyptus cinerea, commonly known as the Argyle apple, mealy stringbark or silver dollar tree, is a species of small- to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, usually only juvenile, glaucous, egg-shaped evergreen leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and conical to bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus polyanthemos, commonly known as red box, is a species of small to medium-sized tree, that is native to eastern Australia but has been introduced into other countries. It has fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish to cream-coloured bark above, or smooth bark throughout. It has broadly egg-shaped to round juvenile leaves, lance-shaped, egg-shaped or almost round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped to conical fruit.

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

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

Eucalyptus baxteri, commonly known as brown stringybark, is a medium-sized tree that is endemic the south-east of Australia. It has rough, stringy bark to the thinnest branches, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, green to yellow flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus ebbanoensis, commonly known as the sandplain mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, whitish flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus globulus <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> maidenii</i> Subspecies of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus globulus subsp. maidenii, commonly known as Maiden's gum, is a subspecies of tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has mostly smooth bark with some persistent slabs of old bark at the base, juvenile leaves with one glaucous side, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and conical, pedicellate, sometimes glaucous fruit that is more or less square in cross-section

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

Eucalyptus camphora, commonly known as swamp gum is a flowering plant that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a species of small to medium-sized tree with smooth bark, sometimes rough at the base, broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptic adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical fruit. There are two subspecies, subspecies camphora, commonly known as broad-leaved sally or swamp gum and subspecies humeana, commonly known as mountain swamp gum.

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

Eucalyptus mannifera, commonly known as the brittle gum or red spotted gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth, powdery white bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus capillosa, commonly known as wheatbelt wandoo, or mallee wandoo, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, grey bark, lance-shaped to elliptic adult leaves, spindle-shaped flower buds in groups of nine to thirteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus arcana, commonly known as the Mallee manna gum or Carpenter Rocks gum is a mallee that is endemic to South Australia. It has rough bark from the base of the trunk to the thinnest branches, lance-shaped, sometimes curved leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit. It is only known from a single population near Carpenter Rocks.

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

Eucalyptus conglobata, also known as the cong mallee or Port Lincoln mallee, is a species of eucalypt that is native to the south coast of Western Australia and South Australia. It is a mallee with smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and clustered hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus crucis is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. There are three subspecies, commonly known as silver mallee or Southern Cross mallee,, narrow-leaved silver mallee, and Paynes Find mallee,. It has rough bark that is shed in curling flakes, more or less round, glaucous juvenile leaves, egg-shaped intermediate leaves and lance-shaped adult leaves. The type of bark and the proportion of juvenile, intermediate and adult leaves in the crown of mature plants varies with subspecies. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils, the flowers are whitish to pale yellow and the fruit is a conical to hemispherical capsule.

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

Eucalyptus diversifolia, commonly known as the soap mallee, coastal white mallee, South Australian coastal mallee, or coast gum is a species of mallee that is endemic to an area along the southern coast of Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white to creamy yellow flowers and cup-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus mackintii, commonly known as the blue-crowned stringybark, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to Victoria. It has rough, stringy bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flowers buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus alatissima is a mallee that is endemic to central parts of the Great Victoria Desert. It has rough bark on the lower part of its stems, smooth tan to cream-coloured bark on its upper parts, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves and buds in groups of three. The buds have a powdery covering and are prominently winged.

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

Eucalyptus canescens, commonly known as the Ooldea Range mallee or Beadell's mallee, depending on subspecies, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has rough bark from the base of the trunk to the thicker branches, smooth bark on the thin branches, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, creamy white flowers and smooth cup-shaped to conical, and sometimes ribbed fruit.

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. hedraia, commonly known as snow gum, is a mallee or small tree that is endemic to a small area of Victoria, Australia. It has smooth bark, branchlets that are often glaucous, glossy green lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptical adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between eleven and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having larger, sessile, glaucous buds and broader, hemispherical fruit.

References

  1. Fensham, R.; Laffineur, B.; Collingwood, T. (2019). "Eucalyptus alligatrix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T133377713A133377715. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133377713A133377715.en . Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  2. "Eucalyptus alligatrix". APC. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. "Eucalyptus alligatrix". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. 1 2 Brooker, M. Ian; Slee, Andrew V. "Eucalyptus alligatrix". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. alligatrix". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. 1 2 Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus alligatrix". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  7. "Eucalyptus alligatrix". APNI. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  8. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 143.
  9. Hill, Kenneth D.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (1 March 1991). "Systematic studies in the eucalypts - 3. New taxa and combinations in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 4 (2): 237–238. doi: 10.7751/telopea19914928 .
  10. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. alligatrix". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. alligatrix". APNI. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. limaensis". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. limaensis". APNI. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. miscella". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. miscella". APNI. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  16. Murphy, Anna H.; Downe, Judy. "National Recovery Plan for the Lima Stringybark Eucalyptus alligatrix subspecies limaensis" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  17. "Approved Conservation Advice for Eucalyptus alligatrix subsp. miscella (a stringybark)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 26 February 2019.