Eucalyptus microtheca

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Coolibah
Leichhardt Tree, Taroom (2009).jpg
Eucalyptus microtheca - Leichhardt Tree in Taroom
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. microtheca
Binomial name
Eucalyptus microtheca
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus barklyensis L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill
  • Eucalyptus cyanoclada Blakely
  • Eucalyptus helenaeL.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill
  • Eucalyptus microtheca var. cymbaliformisBlakely & Jacobs
  • Eucalyptus microtheca F.Muell. var. microtheca
Foliage and flower buds Eucalyptus microtheca 1.jpg
Foliage and flower buds
Fruit Eucalyptus microtheca fruit.jpg
Fruit

Eucalyptus microtheca, commonly known as the coolibah, [2] is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, flaky or fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and spherical to conical fruit. It is widely distributed from the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Cape York in Queensland.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus microtheca is a tree, sometimes a mallee, that typically grows to a height of 5–10 m (16–33 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has a whitish grey to dark grey, box-type bark that is often deeply fissured, coarsely flaky or tessellated as it ages. Young plants and coppice regrowth have narrow lance-shaped leaves that are 50–150 mm (2.0–5.9 in) long, 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) wide and petiolate. Adult plants have leaves that are the same shade of dull green to bluish on both sides, lance-shaped to curved, 50–195 mm (2.0–7.7 in) long and 6–30 mm (0.24–1.18 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 6–20 mm (0.24–0.79 in) long. The flower buds are arranged on a thin, branched peduncle in groups of seven, the peduncle 2–9 mm (0.079–0.354 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long. Mature buds are pear-shaped to oval or spherical, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide with a rounded operculum with a point in the centre. Flowering occurs between September and January and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, shortened spherical or conical capsule 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) wide with the valves near rim level. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus microtheca was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany , from samples he had collected in 1855 along the Victoria River in the Northern Territory. [5] [6] The specific epithet (microtheca) is from the Greek micro- meaning "small" and thece meaning "a box" referring to the small fruit. [3]

Eucalyptus microtheca is most closely related to the widespread E. coolabah which is found in similar but drier habitats to the south and south-east. It is also closely related to E. victrix which is found in even drier habitats from central Australia west to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. [7]

Distribution and habitat

The tree is distributed widely across northern Australia and mostly found along river banks and in the heavy soils of flood plains. It is the second most widely distributed species in Australia after Eucalyptus camaldulensis . [8]

The species is found waterlogged flats, along the margins of swamps in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Populations of the tree are scattered through several IBRA regions including Dampierland, Northern Kimberley, Central Kimberley, Ord Victoria plain and Victoria Bonaparte. [4] It is also distributed throughout the top end of the Northern Territory east from the Western Australian border as far north as about Newcastle Waters and through the Barkly Tableland east through the catchment areas of the Roper and McArthur Rivers and into the Gulf Country of Queensland. [7] In Queensland the range of the plant extends from the Gulf Country to western Cape York and south to about Mount Isa. [7]

Uses

Indigenous Australians harvested seeds from E. microtheca as a source of food. [9]

The wood produced by the tree is extremely hard and difficult to work with but is excellent for firewood and makes long-lasting fence posts that resist weathering and insects. The trees have a dense, rounded shape making them wind resistant and useful as windbreaks and to control erosion. They are one of the more commonly planted eucalyptus species in the southwestern United States since they are fast and easy to grow. Able to tolerate full sun, withstand temperatures below freezing and grow in soils with poor fertility makes them easy to grow. [10]

Oils extracted from the leaves and blossom of the plant contain 101 compounds including α-pinene, O-cymen, β-pinene, aromadendrene, α-phellandrene and globulol. Some of the chemicals isolated are utilised in medicinal and food products and others are alternatives to insecticide agents. [11]

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus coolabah, commonly known as coolibah or coolabah, is a species of tree and is found in eastern inland Australia. It has rough bark on part or all of the trunk, smooth powdery cream to pink bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven and hemispherical or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus radiata, commonly known as the narrow-leaved peppermint or Forth River peppermint, is a species of tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous to flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth grey bark on the thinner branches, lance-shaped to curved or almost linear leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven to twenty or more, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus oraria, commonly known as ooragmandee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to coastal and near-coastal areas of Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, sometimes with rough, flaky bark on the base of the trunk, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of nine or more, white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus laevopinea, commonly known as the silver top stringybark, is a tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, stringy greyish bark on the trunk and larger branches, glossy green, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus victrix, commonly known as the smooth-barked coolibah, western coolibah or little ghost gum, is a species of small tree that is endemic to Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus porosa, commonly known as mallee box, Quorn mallee or water mallee, is a species of mallee or a tree that is endemic to southern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped or shortened spherical fruit.

Corymbia greeniana is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough bark on some or all of the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit with a distinct neck.

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

Eucalyptus intertexta, commonly known as inland red box, western red box, gum coolibah or the bastard coolibah, is a species of tree that is endemic to central Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the base of the trunk, smooth white to brownish bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven on the ends of branchlets, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus houseana, commonly known as Kimberley white gum, or is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical to hemispherical fruit.

Eucalyptus obconica is a species of small tree or a mallee the is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has rough fibrous or flaky, wavy bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved or oblong adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus suberea, commonly known as Mount Lesueur mallee or cork mallee, is a species of mallee or a small tree that is endemic to a small area on the west coast of Western Australia. It has rough bark on some or all of the trunk, smooth white bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven to twenty or more, white flowers and shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus tetrodonta, commonly known as Darwin stringybark or messmate, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, stringy or fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flowers buds in groups of three, whitish to cream-coloured flowers and cylindrical fruit.

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

Corymbia cliftoniana is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has thick, rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and shortened spherical fruit.

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

Corymbia latifolia, commonly known as the round-leaved bloodwood, round leaf bloodwood, wubam and other names in indigenous languages, is a species of tree that is endemic to northern Australia. It has thin, rough bark over part or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, triangular or broadly egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus costuligera is a species of small tree that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has short-fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches, bluish, lance-shaped adult leaves, club-shaped flower buds in branched or unbranched inflorescences with the buds in groups of up to seven, creamy-white flowers and conical, cup-shaped or pear-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus howittiana, commonly known as Howitt's box, is a species of tree that is endemic to a small area of Queensland. It has rough, fibrous and flaky bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped or egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, creamy white flowers and shortened spherical to barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus normantonensis, commonly known as Normanton box, is a species of mallee, rarely a small tree, that is endemic to northern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on some or all of the stems, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cylindrical, barrel-shaped or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus orgadophila, commonly known as mountain coolibah, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the lower trunk, smooth white to greyish above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus lockyeri, commonly known as Lockyer's box, is a species of small tree endemic to a small area in Queensland. It has rough bark near the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus socialis subsp. eucentrica, commonly known as the inland red mallee, is a subspecies of mallee that is endemic to inland Australia. It usually has rough bark on the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, pale creamy yellow flowers and barrel-shaped to urn-shaped or spherical fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus microtheca". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus microtheca". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Eucalyptus microtheca". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Eucalyptus microtheca". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ↑ "Eucalyptus microtheca". APNI. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). "Monograph of the Eucalypti of tropical Australia". Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany. 3: 87. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus microtheca F.Muell". NT Flora. Northern Territory Government. 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Eucalyptus microtheca Coolibah". Windmill Outback Nursery. 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Aboriginal Plant use and Technology" (PDF). Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Eucalyptus microtheca". Learn2grow. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Malek Taher Maghsoodlou; Nasrin Kazemipoor; Jafar Valizadeh; Mohsen Falak Nezhad Seifi; Nahid Rahneshan (November 2015). "Essential oil composition of Eucalyptus microtheca and Eucalyptus viminalis". Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine. 5 (6): 540–52. PMC   4678499 . PMID   26693411.
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