Dawson River blackbutt | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Eucalyptus |
Species: | E. cambageana |
Binomial name | |
Eucalyptus cambageana |
Eucalyptus cambageana, commonly known as the Dawson River blackbutt, Dawson gum [3] or Coowarra box, [4] is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is a medium-sized tree with hard, rough bark on the lower trunk, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to funnel-shaped fruit.
Eucalyptus cambageana is a tree that typically grows to a height of 25 m (82 ft) high and forms a lignotuber. The bark on the lowest 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) of the trunk is hard, rough, dark grey to black then abruptly changes above to smooth, white to grey bark. The leaves on young plants and coppice regrowth are egg-shaped, 70–145 mm (2.8–5.7 in) long and 30–63 mm (1.2–2.5 in) wide and dull bluish grey. Adult leaves are lance-shaped, sometimes curved, the same glossy green on both sides, 75–165 mm (3.0–6.5 in) long and 12–30 mm (0.5–1 in) wide on a petiole 10–27 mm (0.4–1 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils on a peduncle 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) long, the individual flowers on a pedicel usually 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. Mature buds are oval, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.16 in) wide with a conical to rounded operculum. Flowering occurs between July and September and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped to funnel-shaped capsule 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) wide with the valves enclosed below the rim. [3] [4] [5]
Eucalyptus cambageana was first formally described in 1913 by Joseph Maiden described from a specimen collected in 1912 from Mirtna Station near Charters Towers. [6] The specific epithet (cambageana) honours surveyor and botanist Richard Hind Cambage. [5] [7]
Dawson River blackbutt is found from near Charleville, Charters Towers and Jericho to the coast of Queensland. It grows in scrubland or open woodland with brigalow ( Acacia harpophylla ), belah ( Casuarina cristata ), and wilga ( Geijera parviflora ). These open woodland communities where it is co-dominant with brigalow are found on clay, alluvial, or sedimentary soils. [4] [8] [9] [10] [11]
The presence of E. cambageana is an indicator of sodic soil, which has implications for agriculture in the region. [12]
This eucalypt is classed as "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. [13]
The heavy reddish-brown timber of this eucalypt is used for fence posts in the local area. It grows into too large a tree for gardens in general, but its contrasting bark give it horticultural potential for parks and acreage. [5]