Eucalyptus oreades

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Blue Mountains ash
Eucalyptus oreades - Narrow Neck Katoomba.JPG
Eucalyptus oreades at Narrow Neck, Katoomba, 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. oreades
Binomial name
Eucalyptus oreades
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus altior(H.Deane & Maiden) Maiden nom. illeg.
  • Eucalyptus luehmanniana var. altiorH.Deane & Maiden
  • Eucalyptus virgata var. altiorH.Deane & Maiden

Eucalyptus oreades, commonly known as the Blue Mountains ash, white ash or smooth-barked mountain ash, [2] is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is native to eastern Australia. It has smooth, powdery whitish bark with rough bark near the base, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus oreades is a tree that typically grows to a height of 40 m (130 ft), with a trunk up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in diameter at chest height, but does not form a lignotuber. It has smooth white or yellow bark that is shed in strips, leaving a 'skirt' of thicker bark for up to 4 m (13 ft) of the base. Young plants and coppice regrowth have elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are the same shade of dull greyish green on both sides, 80–200 mm (3.1–7.9 in) long and 35–100 mm (1.4–3.9 in) wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped to curved, 75–180 mm (3.0–7.1 in) long and 10–32 mm (0.39–1.26 in) wide on a petiole 10–22 mm (0.39–0.87 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on a slightly flattened, unbranched peduncle 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long. Mature buds are diamond-shaped to spindle-shaped, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide with a conical to beaked operculum. Flowering occurs from January to March and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped, urn-shaped or cylindrical capsule 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) wide with the valves near rim level. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus oreades was first formally described in 1900 by Richard Thomas Baker in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from specimens Baker and Henry George Smith collected at Adelina Falls near Lawson in the Blue Mountains on 22 April 1899. [7] [8] The species name is derived from Oreades, Greek mountains nymphs, referring to the habitat of this species. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Blue Mountains ash occurs from Mittagong in the Southern Highlands north to Binna Burra and Springbrook in far south-eastern Queensland. It is widespread in the Blue Mountains, with a somewhat scattered distribution elsewhere. It is found on sandstone soils in the Blue Mountains, and red clay loams elsewhere. [3] In the Blue Mountains, it is found on steep slopes and ridges, on southern or eastern aspects, from elevations of 600 to 1,200 metres (2,000 to 3,900 ft) and annual rainfall of 900 to 1,400 millimetres (35 to 55 in). [5] The habitat is open eucalypt forest, and associated species include silvertop ash ( E. sieberi ), narrow-leaved peppermint ( E. radiata ), [5] broad-leaved peppermint ( E. dives ), Sydney peppermint ( E. piperita ), Blaxland's stringybark ( E. blaxlandii ), snappy gum ( E. racemosa ), messmate stringybark ( E. obliqua ), tallowwood ( E. microcorys ), and New England blackbutt ( E. andrewsii ). [3]

Ecology

Eucalyptus oreades is unusual for a eucalypt in that it lacks a lignotuber and therefore is sensitive to bushfire, and often succumbs, with recruitment coming from the seeds stored in the canopy seedbank. [3] Mature trees over 20 years of age do have a skirt of thicker corky bark which helps them resist low-intensity fires. [9]

Uses

Very fast growing in cultivation, Eucalyptus oreades is grown in plantations for timber, both in Australia and overseas in New Zealand and South Africa. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

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 punctata</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus punctata, commonly known as grey gum, is a small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth grey bark that is shed in patches, lance-shaped, curved or egg-shaped adult leaves flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit. Its leaves are one of the favoured foods of the koala.

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

Eucalyptus dives, commonly known as the broad-leaved peppermint or blue peppermint, is a species of tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, finely fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth bark above, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven or more, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus nicholii, commonly known as the narrow-leaved black peppermint or willow peppermint, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has thick, rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, small, narrow adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and small, hemispherical, bell-shaped or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus obliqua, commonly known as messmate stringybark or messmate, but also known as brown top, brown top stringbark, stringybark or Tasmanian oak, is a species of tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, stringy or fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish bark on the thinnest branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven to fifteen or more, white flowers and cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus saligna, commonly known as the Sydney blue gum or blue gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, flaky bark near the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, nine or eleven, white flowers and cylindrical to conical or cup-shaped fruit.

<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 caliginosa</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus caliginosa, commonly known as broad-leaved stringybark or New England stringybark, is a tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has stringy bark, lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and more or less hemispherical fruit. It is common on the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes of New South Wales and adjacent areas of Queensland.

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

Eucalyptus odorata, commonly known as peppermint box, is a species of mallee or a small tree that is endemic to South Australia. It has rough, hard bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish bark on the thinner branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus deanei, commonly known as mountain blue gum, round-leaved gum, or Deane's gum, is a species of large tree endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped leaves that are paler on the lower surface, flower buds in groups of seven to eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped to bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus cephalocarpa, commonly known as mealy stringybark or silver stringybark is a species of small to medium-sized tree, that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, Flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and conical, bell-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus agglomerata, commonly known as blue-leaved stringybark, is a tree endemic to eastern Australia. It has persistent, stringy bark, green or greyish leaves with a bluish sheen, flower buds in groups of eleven to fifteen, white to cream-coloured flowers and crowded, flattened hemispherical 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 cunninghamii</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus cunninghamii, commonly known as cliff mallee ash, is a species of mallee that is endemic to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. It has smooth grey bark, often with insect "scribbles", linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flowers buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and urn-shaped, barrel-shaped or more or less spherical fruit. It grows on cliff edges and upper edges of valleys.

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

Eucalyptus blaxlandii, commonly known as Blaxland's stringybark, is a tree that is endemic to south eastern New South Wales. It is a stringybark with lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in group of nine or eleven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus ligustrina, commonly known as the privet-leaved stringybark, is a species of shrub, mallee or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has rough, stringy bark, lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus dendromorpha, the Budawang ash or giant mallee ash is a species of tree endemic to southeastern Australia. It has rough, compacted bark on the lower part of the trunk, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus benthamii, commonly known as Camden white gum, Bentham's gum, Nepean River gum, kayer-ro or durrum-by-ang, is a species of tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has mostly smooth bluish grey or white bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped, bell-shaped or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus pulchella, commonly known as the white peppermint or narrow-leaved peppermint, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. it has smooth bark, sometimes with rough fibrous bark on older trees, linear leaves, flower buds in groups of nine to twenty or more, white flowers and cup-shaped to shortened spherical fruit.

Eucalyptus cajuputea, commonly known as the narrow-leaved peppermint box, is a tree or a mallee that is endemic to South Australia. It usually has rough, flaky bark on the trunk, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven to eleven, white flowers and smooth, cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus oreades". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus oreades". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. 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. 332. ISBN   0-643-06969-0.
  4. ↑ Hill, Ken. "New South Wales Flora Online: Eucalyptus oreades". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  5. 1 2 3 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.
  6. ↑ Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus oreades". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Eucalyptus oreades". APNI. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ↑ Baker, Richard T. (1900). "On three new species of Eucalyptus". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 24 (4): 596–598. doi: 10.5962/bhl.part.7684 . Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. ↑ Whelan, Robert J. (1995). The ecology of fire . Cambridge University Press. pp.  72. ISBN   0-521-32872-1.
  10. ↑ Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L. (1986). "Eu-Go". In Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol. 4. Lothian Publishing. pp. 164–65. ISBN   0-85091-213-X.
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