Eucalyptus ophitica

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Serpentine ironbark
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. ophitica
Binomial name
Eucalyptus ophitica

Eucalyptus ophitica, commonly known as the serpentine ironbark, [2] is a species of small ironbark tree that is endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has grey ironbark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, conical or hemispherical fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus ophitica is a tree that typically grows to a height of 10–15 m (33–49 ft) and forms a lignotuber. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull green, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves that are 75–20 mm (2.95–0.79 in) long and 30–70 mm (1.2–2.8 in) wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of green on both sides, lance-shaped, 78–170 mm (3.1–6.7 in) long and 17–25 mm (0.67–0.98 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 15–28 mm (0.59–1.10 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on a peduncle 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long. Mature buds are club-shaped to more or less cylindrical, 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with a rounded operculum. The flowers are white and the fruit is a woody, cup-shaped, conical or hemispherical capsule 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide with the valves protruding above the rim. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus ophitica was first formally described in 1990 by Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill in the journal Telopea from specimens collected near Baryulgil in 1984. [4] [5] The specific epithet (ophitica) is from the Greek ophites, meaning "serpentine" (rock), referring to the rocks where the species is found. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Serpentine ironbark grows in grassy woodland on hilly serpentine outcrops in the Upper Clarence. [2] [4]

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus caleyi, commonly known as Caley's ironbark or Ovenden's ironbark is a species of small to medium-sized tree, endemic to eastern Australia. It has brown or black "ironbark" on the trunk and main branches, dull bluish grey lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped or conical fruit. It grows on the Central and Northern Tablelands of New South Wales and in south-eastern Queensland.

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

Eucalyptus williamsiana, commonly known as the large-leaved stringybark, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to northern New South Wales. It has rough, stringy bark on the trunk and branches, broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

Eucalyptus vicina, commonly known as the Manara Hills red gum, is a species of mallee in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to western New South Wales. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

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

Eucalyptus beyeriana, commonly known as Beyer's ironbark, is a small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has dark grey to black "ironbark", lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical or shortened spherical fruit. Its name is disputed with some authors considering it to be a synonym of Eucalyptus beyeri.

Eucalyptus interstans is a species of small to medium-sized tree endemic to New South Wales and Queensland. It has smooth white or greyish bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus nobilis, commonly known as ribbon gum or giant white gum, is a species of medium to tall tree that is native to northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland. It has a long, straight trunk with smooth, greyish bark that is shed in long ribbons, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus prava, commonly known as orange gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth, mottled bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

Eucalyptus retinens, commonly known as Hillgrove box, is a species of tree that is endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark on the thinner branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, cylindrical or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus tetrapleura, commonly known as the square-fruited ironbark, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to northern New South Wales. It has thick, dark ironbark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical fruit that is square in cross-section.

Eucalyptus atrata, commonly known as the Herberton ironbark or blue-leaved ironbark, is a small tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has hard, black "ironbark" on the trunk and all but the thinnest branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, buds usually arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit. It is characterised by the blue-grey, powdery bloom on its leaves and flower buds.

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

Eucalyptus granitica, commonly known as the granite ironbark, is a species of tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has dark grey or black "ironbark" on the trunk and branches, glossy green, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus paedoglauca, commonly known as the Mount Stuart ironbark, is a small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to a small area in Queensland. It has rough, dark ironbark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit. It is only known from a few hills near Townsville.

Eucalyptus sicilifolia is a species of small ironbark tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has dark ironbark on the trunk and branches, narrow lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus suffulgens is a small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has hard ironbark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven on the ends of branchlets, white flowers and barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus farinosa is a species of small tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has hard, dark grey ironbark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped and ribbed fruit.

Eucalyptus scopulorum is a species of small tree that is endemic to a small area of northern New South Wales. It has rough ironbark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped or conical fruit.

References

  1. "Eucalyptus ophitica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus ophitica". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. K.Hill. "New South Wales Flora Online: Eucalyptus ophitica". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Lawrence A.S.; Hill, Kenneth D. (1990). "New taxa and combinations in Eucalyptus and Angophora (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 4 (1): 67–69. doi: 10.7751/telopea19904916 .
  5. "Eucalyptus ophitica". APNI. Retrieved 21 November 2019.