Eucalyptus longifolia

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Woollybutt
Eucalyptus longifolia.jpg
Eucalyptus longifolia near Eden
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. longifolia
Binomial name
Eucalyptus longifolia
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus longifoliaLink var. longifolia
  • Eucalyptus woollsii F.Muell.

Eucalyptus longifolia, commonly known as woollybutt, [2] is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thick, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical or hemispherical fruit. The drooping flower heads in groups of three are a distinguishing feature. It grows in heavy soils often near water.

Contents

flower buds and fruit Eucalyptus longifolia buds, flowers, fruit.jpg
flower buds and fruit

Description

Eucalyptus longifolia is a tree that typically grows to a height of 35 m (115 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, fibrous to flaky bark on the trunk and branches thicker than about 80 mm (3.1 in). The trunk diameter is up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in). Young plants and coppice regrowth have stems that are more or less square in cross-section and leaves that are egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped, 65–200 mm (2.6–7.9 in) long and 20–90 mm (0.79–3.54 in) wide. Adult leaves are lance-shaped to curved, the same dull greyish green on both sides, 90–250 mm (3.5–9.8 in) long and 8–35 mm (0.31–1.38 in) wide, on a petiole 15–32 mm (0.59–1.26 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of three in leaf axils on an unbranched peduncle 10–34 mm (0.39–1.34 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long. Mature buds are pendulous, oval to diamond-shaped, 16–27 mm (0.63–1.06 in) long and 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) wide with a conical operculum. Flowering occurs from March to June and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped to cylindrical or hemispherical capsule 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long and 9–16 mm (0.35–0.63 in) wide with the valves near rim level. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus longifolia was first formally described in 1822 by Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link in his book, Enumeratio Plantarum Horti Regii Berolinensis Altera. [7] [8] The specific epithet (longifolia) is derived from the Latin words longus "long" and folium "leaf". [9]

Within the genus Eucalyptus, this species belongs in the subgenus Symphyomyrtus. [10]

Distribution and habitat

The range of woollybutt is from Morisett in central New South Wales south to the Victorian border. [3] In the north of its range it is more scattered in its distribution, but becomes more common south of Nowra to Bega. [6] It generally grows on clay soils and floodplains, sometimes in areas with poor drainage, [11] in valleys and low areas. [6] In open sclerophyll forest, it grows alongside such trees as white mahogany ( E. acmenoides ), grey box ( E. moluccana ), forest red gum ( E. tereticornis ), and rough-barked apple ( Angophora floribunda ), while in swampy areas it is found with swamp mahogany ( E. robusta ) and paperbark species such as snow-in-summer ( Melaleuca linariifolia ), prickly paperbark ( M. styphelioides ) and swamp paperbark ( M. ericifolia ). [11]

Ecology

The woollylbutt can regenerate via epicormic buds if its crown is damaged by bushfire. Trees live for over a hundred years. Along with many bird species the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and little red flying fox (P. scapulatus) feed on nectar produced by the woollybutt flowers. [11]

Uses

The dark red timber is hard and resistant to water, [10] and termites. [11] It has been used in railway sleepers and other general construction. [6] The woollybutt is also important in beekeeping and the honey industry. [10] It is useful as a shade tree or windbreak in paddocks, but grows too large for the average garden. [10]

fruit in Norfolk Reserve, Greenacre Eucalyptus longifolia gumnuts.jpg
fruit in Norfolk Reserve, Greenacre

Related Research Articles

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Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as alpine ash, gum-topped stringybark, white-top and in Victoria as woollybutt, is a species of tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has a straight trunk with rough, fibrous to stringy bark on the lower half of the trunk, smooth white bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

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

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

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<i>Corymbia gummifera</i> Species of plant

Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as red bloodwood, is a species of tree, rarely a mallee, that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus miniata, commonly known as the Darwin woollybutt or woolewoorrng, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, fibrous, brownish bark on the trunk, smooth greyish bark above. Adult leaves are lance-shaped, the flower buds are ribbed and arranged in groups of seven, the flowers orange or scarlet and the fruit is cylindrical to barrel-shaped or urn-shaped, with ribs along the sides.

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

Eucalyptus woollsiana is a species of tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of five or seven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit.

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

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

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

Eucalyptus fastigata, commonly known as brown barrel or cut-tail, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has fibrous or stringy bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven or more, white flowers and conical or pair-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus sieberi, commonly known as the silvertop ash or black ash, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough bark on the trunk and the base of larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven to fifteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped or conical fruit.

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

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

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

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<i>Melaleuca rugulosa</i> Species of plant

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

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Eucalyptus chartaboma, commonly known as paperbark gum, is a eucalypt that is endemic to Queensland. It is a medium-sized tree with soft, papery, fibrous bark on the lower trunk, smooth white to pale cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, orange-coloured flowers and oval to urn-shaped fruit. The flower buds and fruit have distinct ribs along their sides.

<i>Leptospermum emarginatum</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum emarginatum, commonly known as the twin-flower tea-tree or twin flower teatree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough bark on the older stems, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and a small notch at the tip, white flowers in groups of up to five and hemispherical fruit that falls off when mature.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus longifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus longifolia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 Hill, Ken. "New South Wales Flora Online: Eucalyptus longifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  4. "Eucalyptus longifolia". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. Messina, Andre. "Eucalyptus longifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Boland, Douglas J.; Brooker, M. I. H.; Chippendale, G. M.; McDonald, Maurice William (2006). Forest trees of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 97. ISBN   0-643-06969-0.
  7. "Eucalyptus longifolia". APNI. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  8. Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).
  9. 1 2 3 4 Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L. (1986). "Eu-Go". Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. 4. Lothian Publishing. p. 134. ISBN   0-85091-213-X.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1998). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (4): 809–987. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-23.