Eucalyptus mooreana

Last updated

Mountain white gum
Eucalyptus mooreana habit.jpg
Eucalyptus mooreana near Fern Creek on the Gibb River Road
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. mooreana
Binomial name
Eucalyptus mooreana
stem-clasping leaves, flower buds and flowers Eucalyptus mooreana buds.jpg
stem-clasping leaves, flower buds and flowers
fruit Eucalyptus mooreana fruit.jpg
fruit

Eucalyptus mooreana, commonly known as Moore's gum, mountain white gum [3] or King Leopold Range mallee, [4] is a species of stunted, straggly tree or mallee that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has smooth, powdery white bark, a crown of juvenile, sessile, stem-clasping leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus mooreana is a straggly tree or mallee that typically grows to a height of 2.5–9 m (8 ft 2 in–29 ft 6 in) and often has a crooked trunk. It has smooth white, powdery bark that is shed annually to reveal pale pink new bark, and small branches that are glaucous. The leave in the crown are juvenile leaves that are sessile, stem-clasping, elliptical to heart-shaped or almost round, sometimes lance-shaped, 6–13 mm (0.24–0.51 in) long and 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) wide and arranged in opposite pairs. The leaves are the same shade of dull greyish green to glaucous on both sides. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on an unbranched peduncle 7–18 mm (0.28–0.71 in) long, the individual buds usually sessile. Mature buds are oval to diamond-shaped, 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide and red or maroon with a glaucous covering and a conical operculum. Flowering occurs between May and August and the flowers are creamy white. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped to hemispherical capsule 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and wide with the valves protruding above the rim. Eucalyptus mooreana is similar in appearance to, and closely related to the kalumburu gum ( E. herbertiana ) and Halls Creek white gum ( E. cupularis ) but can be distinguished from them by its crown of stem-clasping, juvenile leaves. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus mooreana was formally described by William Vincent Fitzgerald and the description was published in "The Western Mail" newspaper on 2 June 1906. [7] [8] The specific epithet (mooreana) honours Newton James Moore who was Minister of Lands at the time. [7] Further descriptions of the species as E. mooreana(W.V.Fitzg.) Maiden were published in 1920 by Joseph Maiden in his book A Critical Revision of the genus Eucalyptus but the Australian Plant Census accepts Fitzgerald's original 1906 publication. [2] [9] [10]

Distribution and habitat

Eucalyptus mooreana is found on steep rocky slopes and summits in a small area of the Kimberley region of Western Australia where it grows in red sandy soils over sandstone or quartzite in the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges. It is isolated to six separate populations, five of which are in conservation areas and one on a pastoral lease spread over a combined area of 295 square kilometres (114 sq mi). One of the populations comprised 150 individual plants while the others have not been surveyed. It is found at reasonable high elevations including the summit of Mount Broome at 3,060 ft (930 m), Bold Bluff 2,760 ft (840 m) and Mount Leake 2,246 ft (685 m). [3] [5] [11]

Conservation status

In 2008 the species is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Federal Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) [5] meaning that it is likely to become extinct or is rare, or otherwise in need of special protection. The main threats to the species are fire and grazing by cattle. [1] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus pleurocarpa, commonly known as tallerack, talyerock or tallerack is a species of mallee that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, broadly lance-shaped to elliptical, grey or glaucous leaves that are arranged more or less in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of seven, whitish flowers and glaucous, barrel-shaped fruit. It is easily recognised in the field by its form, large, white, waxy leaves and, when in flower, its stamens clustered in four groups.

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

Eucalyptus krueseana, commonly known as book-leaf mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to inland Western Australia. It has smooth bark that is shed in ribbons, a crown of sessile, juvenile leaves, glaucous flower buds and greenish yellow flowers.

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

Eucalyptus pulverulenta, commonly known as silver-leaved mountain gum, is a species of straggly tree or mallee that is endemic to southern New South Wales. It has smooth bark, egg-shaped, heart-shaped or round, sessile leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus kartzoffiana</i>

Eucalyptus kartzoffiana, commonly known as the Araluen gum, is a species of medium-sized tree that is endemic to a small area of southeastern New South Wales. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on part or most of its trunk, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and sessile, bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus rhodantha, commonly known as rose mallee, is a species of straggly mallee or shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, a crown composed entirely of heart-shaped, sessile juvenile leaves arranged in opposite pairs, single flower buds in leaf axils, red flowers and pendent, hemispherical to conical fruit.

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

Corymbia zygophylla, commonly known as the Broome bloodwood, is a species of small tree or a mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, tessellated to fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, a crown of juvenile heart-shaped to lance-shaped, stem-clasping leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white flowers and urn-shaped to shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus burdettiana, commonly known as Burdett gum or Burdett's mallee, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a mallee or shrub with smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds with an elongated horn-shaped operculum, greenish-yellow flowers and cup-shaped or bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus herbertiana, commonly known as Kalumburu gum or yellow-barked mallee, is a species of small tree or mallee that is endemic to northern Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical 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.

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

Eucalyptus newbeyi, commonly known as Beaufort Inlet mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to a small area on the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth, mottled bark, narrow leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, yellowish green flowers and bell-shaped to conical fruit.

Eucalyptus ordiana is a species of small tree or a mallee that is endemic to the Kimberley area of Western Australia. It has smooth, powdery bark, egg-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus pantoleuca, commonly known as round-leaved gum or Panton River white gum, is a species of small tree that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has smooth, powdery bark, more or less round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and conical fruit that are glaucous at first.

Eucalyptus pruiniramis, commonly known as Jingymia gum or midlands gum is a species of mallee or tree that is endemic to a small area of Western Australia. It usually has rough bark on the lower half of the trunk, smooth bark above, dull green, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cylindrical to cup-shaped fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus pruinosa</i> Species of tree

Eucalyptus pruinosa, commonly known as silver box, silver leaf box, apple box or smoke tree, is a species of tree or a mallee that is endemic to northern Australia. The Jaminjung peoples know the tree as yarrirra or jarnbiny, the Jaru as wararn and the Wagiman as wararn. It has rough, fibrous to flaky bark on the trunk and branches, a crown composed of juvenile, glaucous, heart-shaped to broadly elliptical leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds arranged in groups of seven on the ends of branches, creamy white to pale yellow flowers and cylindrical to conical fruit.

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

Corymbia abbreviata, also known as the scraggy bloodwood, is a species of straggly tree that is native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It has rough bark, a crown of stiff leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds usually in crowded groups on the ends of branchlets and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus ceracea also known as the Seppelt Range gum or Seppelt Range yellow-jacket, is a species of small tree or mallee that is endemic to a small area in the north of Western Australia. It has thick, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, dull, glaucous, egg-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, bright orange flowers and urn-shaped fruit. The leaves, buds and fruit are covered with a white wax.

<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 cupularis</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus cupularis, commonly known as the Halls Creek white gum, or in the local indigenous Djaru peoples' language as wawulinggi, is a species of small tree that is endemic to an area in northwestern Australia. It has smooth, powdery white bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus desmondensis, commonly known as Desmond mallee, is a species of slender mallee that is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and nineteen, cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus rhomboidea, commonly known as the diamond gum, is a species of mallet or tree that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, pale yellow flowers and cup-shaped to funnel-shaped fruit that is glaucous at first.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus mooreana — Mountain White Gum, Moores Gum". Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of the Environment and Energy. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Eucalyptus mooreana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Approved Conservation Advice for Eucalyptus mooreana (Mountain White Gum)" (PDF). Australian Government. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Eucalyptus mooreana". Euclid; Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus mooreana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus mooreana". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  7. 1 2 Fitzgerald, William V. (2 June 1906). "Some species of West Kimberley plants". The "West Australian" Newspaper Co., Ltd. The Western Mail. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  8. "Eucalyptus mooreana". APNI. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  9. "Eucalyptus mooreana". APNI. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  10. Maiden, Joseph (1920). A Critical Revision of the genus Eucalyptus. Sydney: New South Wales Government Printer. p. 101. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  11. Charles Austin Gardner (1960). "Trees of Western Australia Eight Eucalyptus Trees from the Tropical North". Journal of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture and Food . Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  12. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 6 December 2016.