Eucalyptus diptera

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Two-winged gimlet
Eucalyptus diptera.jpg
Eucalyptus diptera near Salmon Gums
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. diptera
Binomial name
Eucalyptus diptera
buds Eucalyptus diptera (7225541888).jpg
buds
fruit Eucalyptus diptera (7225544640).jpg
fruit

Eucalyptus diptera, commonly known as the two-winged gimlet, [2] is a mallet that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth greenish to brownish bark, linear to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, each with two wings along the sides, creamy white to pale lemon-coloured flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit, also with two wings on the sides.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus diptera is a mallet that typically grows to a height of 3–8 m (9.8–26.2 ft) but can reach as high as 15 m (49 ft) with smooth, shiny, spirally fluted, greenish to brownish bark. It does not form a lignotuber. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull bluish green leaves arranged alternately and broadly lance-shaped, 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in) long and 7–25 mm (0.28–0.98 in) wide. Adult leaves are glossy green, linear to narrow lance-shaped, 60–120 mm (2.4–4.7 in) long and 7–20 mm (0.28–0.79 in) wide on a petiole 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of three, the groups and individual buds more or less sessile. Mature buds are oval, 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long and 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) wide with two wings along the sides of the floral cup. The operculum is conical and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long. Flowering occurs between February and May or August and September and the flowers are creamy white to pale lemon-coloured or yellow-green flowers. The fruit is a woody, sessile cup-shaped to hemispherical capsule 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long and 9–15 mm (0.35–0.59 in) wide with two wings along the sides. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus diptera was first formally described by the Cecil Andrews from a specimen he collected "in flower north of Esperance". The description was published in the Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society . [6] [7] The specific epithet (diptera) is derived from the Ancient Greek prefix di- meaning "two" [8] :823 and pteron meaning "wing", [8] :859 referring to the wings on the sides of the flower buds and fruit. [4]

Two-winged gimlet is one of the nine species known as gimlets, noted for their smooth, shiny twisted trunks. As with other mallets, it does not develop a lignotuber but grows from seed when the adult tree is killed by fire. [4] [9]

Distribution and habitat

This gimlet is found on flats in inland areas, growing in open shrubland or as thickets in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance regions between Lake Grace and Norseman. [2] [3]

Conservation status

Eucalyptus diptera is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [2]

Use in horticulture

This plant is sold commercially and makes a good ornamental or shade tree. It prefers a full sun position, will tolerate drought and moderate frost, and grow in coastal locations. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Eucalyptus tetraptera, commonly known as square-fruited mallee or four-winged mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, thick lance-shaped to oblong adult leaves, single flower buds arranged in leaf axils, red to pink flowers and square, prominently winged fruit.

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

Eucalyptus salubris, commonly known as gimlet, fluted gum tree, gimlet gum and silver-topped gimlet, is a species of mallet that is endemic to low-rainfall areas of the wheatbelt and goldfields regions of Western Australia.

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

Eucalyptus effusa, commonly known as rough-barked gimlet, is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thin, rough bark on the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus falcata, commonly known as silver mallet or toolyumuck, is a species of mallee or marlock that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven or thirteen, creamy white or yellowish green flowers and flattened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus goniocarpa is a species of mallet, that is endemic to southern Western Australia. It has smooth bark, glossy bluish adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, creamy-white flowers, and ribbed, conical to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus jimberlanica, commonly known as Norseman gimlet, is a species of mallet or a tree and is endemic to a small area in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It has smooth, brownish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven and conical to cup-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus kondininensis, commonly known as Kondinin blackbutt, is a species of tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, black bark on the trunk, smooth grey to white bark on the branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

Eucalyptus phenax, commonly known as green dumosa mallee or white mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

Eucalyptus polita is a species of mallet or small tree that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth, greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus ravida is a species of small mallet that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, shiny bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical to hemispherical fruit.

Eucalyptus tortilis is a species of mallet and a gimlet that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and hemispherical to cup-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus urna, commonly known as merrit, is a species of mallet or marlock that is endemic to southern areas of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven to thirteen, creamy yellow to white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus utilis, commonly known as coastal moort or coastal mort, is a species of mallet or mallee that is native to southern areas of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in group or seven, creamy white flowers and conical fruit.

Eucalyptus valens is a species of mallet, a tree lacking a lignotuber, that is endemic to near-coastal areas of southern Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven and cup-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus creta, commonly known as the large-fruited gimlet, is a species of mallet or tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, shiny bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three in leaf axils, relatively large white to creamy yellow flowers, and broadly hemispherical to bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus densa is a species of mallee or mallet that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark that is shed in curly strips, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, long, spindle-shaped flower buds in groups of seven or nine, pale yellow or lemon-coloured flowers and conical, cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus extensa is a species of mallet that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, yellowish green flowers and hemispherical fruit with the valves extended well beyond the level of the rim.

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

Eucalyptus terebra, commonly known as Balladonia gimlet, is a species of gimlet that is endemic to Western Australia. It has satiny or glossy bark on its fluted trunk, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, yellowish flowers and conical to hemispherical fruit. It is one of the seven species of gimlet.

Eucalyptus rhomboidea, commonly known as the diamond gum, is a species of mallet or tree that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, pale yellow flowers and cup-shaped to funnel-shaped fruit that is glaucous at first.

Eucalyptus proxima, commonly known as nodding mallee or red-flowered mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, red to pink, sometimes yellowish flowers and conical to slightly bell-shaped fruit.

References

  1. "Eucalyptus diptera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus diptera". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  3. 1 2 Margaret G. Corrick; Bruce Alexander Fuhrer (2009). Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia. Rosenberg publishing. p. 125. ISBN   9781877058844.
  4. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus diptera". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus diptera". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. "Eucalyptus diptera". APNI. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. Andrews, Cecil R.P. (1904). "Additions to the West Australian Flora". Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society. 2 (1): 42. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  9. French, Malcolm E. (2012). Eucalypts of Western Australia's Wheatbelt : Eucalypts of Western Australia. Perth: Malcolm French. pp. 102–103. ISBN   9780646590660.
  10. "Eucalyptus diptera Two-winged Gimlet". Plant Selector. Botanic Gardens of South Australia. Retrieved 12 December 2017.