Eucalyptus incrassata

Last updated

Lerp mallee
Eucalyptus incrassata habit.jpg
Eucalyptus incrassata near Meningie - Coonalpyn in South Australia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. incrassata
Binomial name
Eucalyptus incrassata
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus costataF.Muell. & Behr ex F.Muell.
  • Eucalyptus costataF.Muell. & Behr ex F.Muell. subsp. costata
  • Eucalyptus costata subsp. murrayanaL.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill
  • Eucalyptus decensK.D.Hill MS
  • Eucalyptus decensK.D.Hill subsp. decens
  • Eucalyptus incrassata subsp. costata(F.Muell.) F.C.Johnstone & Hallam
  • Eucalyptus incrassataLabill. subsp. incrassata
  • Eucalyptus incrassata var. costata(F.Muell. & Behr ex F.Muell.) N.T.Burb.
  • Eucalyptus incrassataLabill. var. incrassata
flower buds and flowers Eucalyptus incrassata flowers.jpg
flower buds and flowers
fruit Eucalyptus incrassata fruit.jpg
fruit

Eucalyptus incrassata, commonly known as the lerp mallee, yellow mallee, ridge fruited mallee or rib fruited mallee, [2] is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough, ribbony bark near the base, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white, pale yellow, sometimes pink or red flowers, and cylindrical, barrel-shaped or bell-shaped fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus incrassata is a single stemmed or multi-stemmed mallee that typically grows to a height of 2 to 5 metres (7 to 16 ft) but can reach as high as 10 metres (33 ft). It will usually grow to a width of 4 to 7 m (13 to 23 ft) and it forms a lignotuber. The bark is smooth pink to grey or brownish, sometimes with rough grey to brown ribbons near the base. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull bluish green, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves that are 40–100 mm (1.6–3.9 in) long and 20–50 mm (0.79–1.97 in) wide. The adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped, 50–150 mm (2.0–5.9 in) long and 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) wide on a petiole 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on an unbranched peduncle 10–28 mm (0.39–1.10 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 1–8 mm (0.039–0.315 in) long. Mature buds are oblong to pear-shaped, 11–23 mm (0.43–0.91 in) long and 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) wide with a conical operculum. It blooms between August and April producing cream-white-yellow blossoms. The fruit is a woody, cylindrical to barrel-shaped or bell-shaped capsule 11–23 mm (0.43–0.91 in) long and 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) wide with the valves below rim level. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus incrassata was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in his two-volume treatise, Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen . [8] [9] The name incrassata is from the Latin 'incrassatus' meaning thickened referring to the plants thick leaves. [5]

Distribution

Lerp mallee is often found along sandplains and hillsides and is distributed from the Mid West, through the Wheatbelt and along the south coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy soils. [4] It is also found in the south of South Australia extending into Victoria [5] and New South Wales. [6]

This is one of the most widespread mallee species in Australia. [10] It is associated with the western mallee subgroup which is characterised by several eucalypts including E. oleosa , E. moderata , E. eremophila , E. foecunda , E. redunca and E. uncinata . The understorey is predominantly shrubby with species of Melaleuca and Acacia along with the occasional Triodia . [11]

Ecology

This eucalypt attracts nectar-eating birds and insects that use it for food and habitat. [6]

Use in horticulture

E. incrassata is used as a shade tree, mass planting will offer good screening, good for erosion control or as a windbreak. [6] It is suitable mediterranean and bush style gardens [12] and responds well to coppicing. [6] It is tolerant of both drought and light frost. Able to grow in ordinary soil or enriched soil that is either acidic to alkaline and prefers a position in the full sun. [12] Seeds will germinate in 2 to 6 weeks and it can be grown from cuttings. The tree is susceptible to powdery mildew in the wetter months of winter, it can also be affected by myrtle rust and by dieback. [13]

It is also suitable to produce large amounts of biomass, able to make 10 to 20 metric tons (11 to 22 short tons) per hectare per year. In wheatbelt regions it is also beneficial as the tree will reduce salinity, give shade to stock, act as a windbreak and reduce erosion. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus caesia, commonly known as caesia or gungurru, is a species of mallee that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth reddish brown bark at first, later shedding in curling flakes, lance-shaped, sometimes curved adult leaves, club-shaped flower buds covered with a waxy, bluish white bloom, pink stamens with yellow anthers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus viminalis, commonly known as the manna gum, white gum or ribbon gum, is a species of small to very tall tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough bark near the base, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus eremophila, commonly known as the sand mallet or tall sand mallee, 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.

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

Eucalyptus rudis, commonly known as flooded gum or moitch, is a species of small to medium-sized tree endemic to coastal areas near Perth, Western Australia. The Noongar names for the tree are colaille, gooloorto, koolert and moitch. This tree has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and large branches, smooth greyish bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and bell-shaped, cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus ovata, commonly known as swamp gum or black gum, is a small to medium-sized tree species that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has mostly smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, green flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical to bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus dumosa, commonly known as the white mallee, dumosa mallee, or Congoo mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to south eastern Australia. It usually has rough, flaky grey bark on the lower trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus cordata, commonly known as the heart-leaved silver gum is a shrub to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has smooth bark throughout, mostly only juvenile, more or less heart-shaped, glaucous leaves, glaucous flower buds arranged in groups of three, white flowers and cylindrical or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus oleosa, commonly known as the red mallee, glossy-leaved red mallee, acorn mallee, oil mallee or giant mallee, is a tree or mallee that is native to Australia. The leaves were once harvested for the production of cineole based eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus cneorifolia is now the predominant strain used in production due to a higher oil content in new growth.

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

Eucalyptus leptophylla, commonly known as the March mallee, slender-leaved red mallee or narrow-leaved red mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to inland Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, linear to narrow lance-shaped, oblong or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and thirteen, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus socialis, commonly known as the red mallee, or grey mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to inland Australia.

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

Eucalyptus burracoppinensis, commonly known as Burracoppin mallee is a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, except for a short "stocking" of loose rough bark at the base, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of three, white flowers and top-shaped 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.

Eucalyptus subangusta is a species of tree, mallee or mallet that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, narrow lance-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of up to nineteen, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus remota, commonly known as the Kangaroo Island ash, Kangaroo Island mallee ash, or Mount Taylor mallee, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It has smooth bark, often with rough, fibrous bark on the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in group of between nine and twenty one, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus bakeri, commonly known as Baker's mallee or the mallee box, is a eucalypt that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has fibrous bark on the trunk and smooth white or grey bark above, narrow lance-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and thirteen, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus captiosa is a species of mallee that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, groups of three or seven, slightly ribbed flower buds arranged in leaf axils, pale yellow flowers and cup shaped 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 decipiens</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus decipiens, commonly known as redheart or redheart moit is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has varying amounts of rough, imperfectly shed ribbons of brownish bark and smooth whitish to grey bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between eleven and twenty one, and conical to flattened hemispherical fruit.

<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.

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

Eucalyptus armillata, commonly known as red-flowered mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds hanging downwards in groups of three, usually red flowers and prominently ribbed fruit with a double flange around the rim.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata". Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  3. "Eucalyptus incrassata". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  5. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus incrassata (Myrtaceae) Yellow Mallee". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia . Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Eucalyptus incrassata Ridge Fruited Mallee". Plant Selector. Government of South Australia . Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  7. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus incrassata". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  8. "Eucalyptus incrassata". APNI. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  9. Labillardière, Jacques (1806). Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. Paris. p. 12. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Mallee". Biomass Producer. Australian Government. 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  11. "Open mallee woodlands and sparse mallee woodlands" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia . Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata Ridge fruited mallee Myrtaceae". Plant this. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  13. "Eucalyptus incrassata Yellow Mallee (also known as Eucalyptus costata)". TreeProject. Retrieved 22 January 2017.