Sand mallet | |
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Eucalyptus eremophila growing near Hyden | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Eucalyptus |
Species: | E. eremophila |
Binomial name | |
Eucalyptus eremophila | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Eucalyptus occidentalis var. eremophilaDiels |
Eucalyptus eremophila, commonly known as the sand mallet [2] or tall sand mallee, [3] is a species of mallet that is endemic to semi-arid regions of Western Australia. It has smooth pale brown and greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped to elliptical adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of between seven and eleven with an elongated operculum, and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.
Eucalyptus eremophila is a mallet, sometimes a shrub or a tree, that typically grows to a height of 2–8 m (6 ft 7 in – 26 ft 3 in) and a width of 4–8 m (13–26 ft) but does not form a lignotuber. It has smooth, polished pale brown to greyish bark that is shed in late summer. Young plants and coppice regrowth have glossy green, lance-shaped to oblong leaves 30–90 mm (1.2–3.5 in) long, 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) wide and arranged alternately. Adult leaves are narrow lance-shaped to elliptical, 45–110 mm (1.8–4.3 in) long, 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long on a petiole 5–18 mm (0.20–0.71 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven, nine or eleven on a flattened, unbranched peduncle 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel 4–11 mm (0.16–0.43 in) long. Mature buds are 22–38 mm (0.87–1.50 in) long, 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide, curved spindle-shaped with an elongated, horn-shaped operculum. Flowering occurs from August to December and the flowers are lemon yellow, sometimes pale pink. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped to barrel-shaped capsule, 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long, 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) wide on a downturned pedicel, with the valve tips at rim level. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The sand mallet was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels from material collected near Boorabbin in the Coolgardie district by Ernst Georg Pritzel. Diels gave it the name Eucalyptus occidentalis var. eremophila and published the description in the journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. In the same journal, Adolf Engler published the first formal description of E. occidentalis . [6] [7] In 1920, Joseph Maiden raised the variety to species status as E. eremophila. [8]
Two subspecies of E. eremophila are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
The specific epithet (eremophila) is derived from the Greek eremi- meaning "desert" and philos 'lover'. [2]
The eucalypt is associated with the western mallee subgroup which is characterised by several eucalypts, including E. oleosa , E. moderata , E. incrassata , E. foecunda , E. redunca and E. uncinata . The understorey is predominantly shrubby with species of Melaleuca and Acacia along with the occasional Triodia . [13]
Eucalyptus eremophila is found on undulating plains, hills and sand dunes in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia where it grows in skeletal sandy soils over granite. [3] It is found as far north west as Quairading in the central Wheatbelt to the western edge of the Nullarbor Plain in the south east.
Sand mallet is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [3]
This plant is sold commercially in the form of seed or tube stock as an ornamental plant but is also used as an erosion control, windbreak or shade plant for wide verges, nature strips or parks and reserves. It prefers a full sun position and is regarded as quite hardy being drought tolerant and able to withstand a moderate frost. It grows in neutral to acid soils and can be grown in coastal areas. [4] It is also a good habitat for birds and attracts them with its nectar. The seeds germinate readily. [14]
Eucalyptus forrestiana, commonly known as fuchsia gum or fuchsia mallee, is a species of small tree or mallet and is endemic to an area near Esperance, Western Australia. It has smooth grey bark, narrow oblong to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds that are square in cross-section, red at maturity and arranged singly in leaf axils, yellow flowers and four-angled, winged fruit.
Eremophila dichroantha, also known as bale-hook eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many ascending branches making the plant appear broom-like. It has small, hooked leaves and small, though abundant, violet to lilac-coloured flowers.
Grevillea asteriscosa, commonly known as star-leaf grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with widely-spreading branches, star-shaped leaves with sharply-pointed lobes, and bright red flowers.
Eremophila caerulea, commonly known as spotted eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, compact, spreading shrub with narrow, warty, cylindrical leaves and blue to purple flowers.
Eremophila calorhabdos, commonly known as red rod or spiked eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a distinctive shrub with erect, rod-like branches up to 2.5 m (8 ft) high, leaves with small teeth along the edges, and flowers that change from orange to lipstick pink as they open.
Eremophila chamaephila, commonly known as earth-loving poverty bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, dense, spreading shrub with small, fleshy leaves and mauve to purple flowers.
Eremophila ionantha is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with many sticky branches, narrow, light green leaves and blue, purple or violet flowers.
Eremophila platythamnos, commonly known as desert foxglove, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is an erect shrub with short, broad leaves and purple, mauve, blue or pink flowers.
Verticordia stenopetala is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low shrub with small leaves and heads of pink to magenta-coloured flowers in late spring and early summer.
Grevillea eremophila is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with leathery, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and creamy-white flowers.
Grevillea oncogyne is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is an erect to spreading shrub with linear, sometimes lobed leaves, and clusters of red or pinkish red flowers.
Grevillea uncinulata, also known as hook-leaf grevillea, is species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with linear to elliptic leaves arranged in clusters along the branches, and small clusters of white flowers, the style with a yellow, orange or red tip.
Baeckea grandis is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an ascending to low-lying shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1 to 0.5 metres and blooms between September and December producing pink and white flowers. Found on sand-plains and hills in the Mid West and northern Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia, it grows in sandy and lateritic soils.
Hakea recurva subsp. arida is a plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
Goodenia eremophila is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is an ascending herb with linear to elliptic leaves and thyrses of blue flowers.
Teucrium eremaeum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a perennial herb or shrub with small, linear to lance-shaped leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.
Hibbertia silvestris is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to more or less erect or spreading shrub with hairy young branchlets, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and yellow flowers with seven to ten stamens on one side of two softly-hairy carpels.
Lasiopetalum microcardium is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading or straggling shrub with hairy stems, heart-shaped leaves and blue, purple or white flowers.
Pimelea leucantha is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas in the west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with linear to narrowly egg-shaped or narrowly elliptic leaves and clusters of white to pale yellow flowers surrounded by 4 or 6 egg-shaped involucral bracts.
Cryptandra polyclada is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading to mat-forming or erect shrub with white or cream-coloured, tube-shaped flowers. It was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie from specimens collected near Tammin. The specific epithet (polyclada) means "many shoots".
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