Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata

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Southern blue gum
Eucalyptus gobulus ssp bicostata.jpg
Subspecies bicostata at Moss Vale
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
Subspecies:
E. g. subsp. bicostata
Trinomial name
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus bicostataMaiden, Blakely & Simmonds
  • Eucalyptus globulus var. bicostata(Maiden, Blakely & Simmonds) Ewart

Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata, commonly known as the southern blue gum, eurabbie, blue gum or Victorian blue gum, [2] is a subspecies of tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has mostly smooth bark with some persistent slabs of old bark at the base, juvenile leaves with one glaucous side, glossy, lance-shaped adult leaves, warty flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and hemispherical to conical fruit.

Contents

Characteristic 3-budded umbels Eucalyptus bicostata - umbels.jpg
Characteristic 3-budded umbels

Description

Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata is a tree that typically grows to a height of 45 m (148 ft) and forms a lignotuber. The bark is mostly smooth, shedding in long strips to leave a white or greyish surface. There is sometimes rough, partially shed bark at the base of the trunk and ribbons of shedding bark in the upper branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have stems that are more or less square in cross-section, with a prominent wing on each corner. The juvenile leaves are sessile, arranged in opposite pairs, elliptic to egg-shaped, the lower surface covered by a white, waxy bloom, 40–115 mm (1.6–4.5 in) long and 22–60 mm (0.87–2.36 in) wide. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, glossy green, lance-shaped to curved, 140–400 mm (5.5–15.7 in) long and 20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in) wide on a petiole 30–60 mm (1.2–2.4 in) long. [2] [3] [4]

The flower buds are arranged in groups of three in leaf axils on a thick peduncle 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long, the individual buds more or less sessile. Mature buds are glaucous, conical and warty,10–18 mm (0.39–0.71 in) long and 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) wide with two ribs along the sides and a flattened operculum that has a central knob. Flowering mainly occurs between January and March and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, sessile, hemispherical to conical capsule 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long and 13–22 mm (0.51–0.87 in) wide with two longitudinal ridges and the valves at about rim level. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Southern blue gum was first formally described by Joseph Henry Simmonds in the book Trees from other lands for shelter and timber in New Zealand: Eucalypts and given the name Eucalyptus bicostata. [5] In 1974, James Barrie Kirkpatrick reduced E. bicostata to the subspecies, E. globulus subsp. bicostata. [6] The change has been accepted by the Australian Plant Census. [1] The epithet bicostata is derived from the Latin bicostatus, "two-ribbed", referring to the buds and fruit. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Southern blue gum grows in open forest in mountainous, largely inland country in New South Wales and Victoria. It is found between the Carrai National Park on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and the ranges of eastern Victoria. [3]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Eucalyptus globulus</i> Species of tree endemic to southeastern Australia

Eucalyptus globulus, commonly known as southern blue gum or blue gum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is a tall, evergreen tree endemic to southeastern Australia. This Eucalyptus species has mostly smooth bark, juvenile leaves that are whitish and waxy on the lower surface, glossy green, lance-shaped adult leaves, glaucous, ribbed flower buds arranged singly or in groups of three or seven in leaf axils, white flowers and woody fruit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina, commonly known as snow gum, is a mallee or small tree that is endemic to a small area of Victoria, Australia. It has smooth, shiny bark, glossy green lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or conical fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having a dense crown and no parts that are glaucous.

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

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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.

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. parvifructa is a mallee or small tree that is endemic to a small area of Victoria, Australia. It has smooth bark, slightly glaucous branchlets, glossy green, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having a smaller habit and smaller leaves, flower buds and fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus pauciflora <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> niphophila</i> Subspecies of plant

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila, commonly known as snow gum, is a small tree or large shrub that is native to a few mountain peaks in eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having more delicate, pedicellate flower buds and smaller leaves.

<i>Eucalyptus pauciflora <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> pauciflora</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora, commonly known as snow gum, cabbage gum or white sally is a tree or mallee that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped, curved or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata". keyserver.lucidcentral.org. Centre for Australian Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Brooker, M. Ian H.; Slee, Andrew V. "Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. "Eucalyptus bicostata". APNI. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  6. Kirkpatrick, James Barrie (September 1974). "The numerical intraspecific taxonomy of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Myrtaceae)". The Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 69 (2): 89–104. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1974.tb01618.x.