Eucalyptus platypus

Last updated

Moort
Eucalyptus platypus.jpg
Juvenile Eucalyptus platypus in Maranoa Gardens
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. platypus
Binomial name
Eucalyptus platypus
E. platypus.JPG
E. platypus, field distribution
flower buds and flowers Eucalyptus platypus buds.jpg
flower buds and flowers
fruit Eucalyptus platypus fruit.jpg
fruit

Eucalyptus platypus, also known as moort or maalok, [3] is a species of mallee or marlock that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, broadly elliptical to more or less round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of nine on a broad, flattened peduncle, usually creamy white flowers and conical, down-turned fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus platypus is a mallee or a marlock that typically grows to a height of 1.5–10 m (4 ft 11 in – 32 ft 10 in) and a width of 5–10 m (16–33 ft) with a dense, rounded crown but does not form a lignotuber. The bark is smooth, brownish or copper-coloured. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped to more or less round leaves 40–65 mm (1.6–2.6 in) long and wide. Adult leaves are the same shade of glossy green on both sides, broadly elliptical to more or less round, 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) long and 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) wide on a thick petiole 3–20 mm (0.12–0.79 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils on a broad, flatted, unbranched peduncle 13–40 mm (0.51–1.57 in) long and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) wide, the buds sessile or on pedicels up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long. Mature buds are elongated, 25–32 mm (0.98–1.26 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) wide with a horn-shaped operculum that is up to three times as long as the floral cup. Flowering occurs from September to December or from January to March and the flowers are creamy white, sometimes yellowish green or pinkish. The fruit is a woody, down-turned, conical capsule 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) wide with the valves at rim level. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus platypus was first formally described in 1851 by William Jackson Hooker in his book Icones Plantarum from material collected near King George's Sound by James Drummond. [8] [9] The specific epithet (platypus) is from the ancient Greek words platys (πλατύς) meaning "broad" or "flat and pous (πούς) meaning "foot", [10] referring to the peduncle. [4]

In 2002, Ian Brooker and Stephen Hopper described two subspecies and the names have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census: [11]

The Noongar names for this species are maalok or moort. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Moort occurs in an area between Albany and Esperance in Western Australia. It is found on plains and hilly, rocky country in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy, loam or clay soils often around laterite. It extends from coastal areas and is seen as far west as Broomehill to Ravensthorpe in the east. [5]

The species is considered as a weed on the Eyre Peninsula where it is known to invade disturbed areas of native vegetation. The dense low-growing foliage then prevents growth of understorey species. [14]

Conservation status

This eucalypt is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [5]

Use in horticulture

This fast growing species is sold commercially and is well suited to heavy soils. It is resistant to frost and drought, will tolerate water logging and smog. They are ideal for coppicing and respond well to pruning. The bushy nature of the plant make it well suited for use as a windbreak and the floriferous nature make it useful for beekeepers and honey production. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus macrocarpa, commonly known as mottlecah, is a species of mallee that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, usually sessile, heart-shaped adult leaves arranged in opposite pairs, large red flowers and broad conical fruit.

<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 preissiana</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus preissiana, commonly known as bell-fruited mallee, is a species of small tree or shrub that occurs in an area between Albany and Esperance in Western Australia. It has a spreading habit, smooth bark, elliptical to egg-shaped or oblong leaves, flower buds in groups of three, yellow flowers and cup-shaped, conical or bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus eudesmioides, commonly known as mallalie, desert gum or mallabie is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It is a rounded, bushy mallee with smooth bark, egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, club-shaped flower buds arranged in groups of three, whitish flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus flocktoniae, commonly known as merrit, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, silvery grey bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, prominently beaked flower buds in groups of seven or nine and barrel-shaped or urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus moorei, commonly known as narrow-leaved sally, is a species of mallee that is endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth bark, linear to narrow lance-shaped or curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped or shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus arachnaea, commonly known as the black-stemmed mallee, is a mallee or tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, stringy bark, lance-shaped leaves and white flowers in groups of up to thirteen.

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

Eucalyptus capillosa, commonly known as wheatbelt wandoo, or mallee wandoo, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth, grey bark, lance-shaped to elliptic adult leaves, spindle-shaped flower buds in groups of nine to thirteen, white flowers and barrel-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus falcata, commonly known as silver mallet or toolyumuck, is a species of mallee or marlock that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of eleven or thirteen, creamy white or yellowish green flowers and flattened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus nutans, commonly known as red-flowered moort, is a species of mallet that is endemic to a small area near the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, oblong to almost round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, red or pinkish flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus phaenophylla, also known as common southern mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, linear to narrow lance-shaped or narrow elliptical adult leaves, flower buds in groups of up to thirteen, pale lemon-coloured flowers and barrel-shaped, cylindrical or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus pluricaulis, commonly known as the purple-leaved mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth bark, dull bluish green, lance-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, pale yellow flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus subangusta is a species of tree, mallee or mallet that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, narrow lance-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of up to nineteen, white flowers and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus utilis, commonly known as coastal moort or coastal mort, is a species of mallet or mallee that is native to southern areas of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, egg-shaped to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in group or seven, creamy white flowers and conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus celastroides, commonly known by the Noongar name of mirret, is a species of eucalypt that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a mallee, rarely a tree, and has rough bark on about half of the lower half of its tunk, smooth above, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

<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 decipiens</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus decipiens, commonly known as redheart or redheart moit is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has varying amounts of rough, imperfectly shed ribbons of brownish bark and smooth whitish to grey bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between eleven and twenty one, and conical to flattened hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus mcquoidii, commonly known as the Quoin Head marlock, is a species of marlock, mallee or small tree that is endemic to a restricted area in Western Australia. It has smooth, greyish bark, glossy green, linear to narrow oblong adult leaves, flower buds in clusters of up to fifty that are fused at their bases, greenish flowers and fruit in spherical masses.

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. acerina, commonly known as snow gum, is a mallee or small tree that is endemic to a small area of Victoria, Australia. It has smooth, shiny bark, glossy green lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and hemispherical or conical fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having a dense crown and no parts that are glaucous.

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

Eucalyptus semiglobosa is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, broadly lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and ribbed or wrinkled, shortened spherical or hemispherical fruit.

References

  1. ↑ Fensham, R.; Laffineur, B.; Collingwood, T. (2019). "Eucalyptus platypus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T133373462A133373464. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133373462A133373464.en . Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Eucalyptus platypus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Eucalyptus platypus". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus platypus". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. 1 2 "Eucalyptus platypus (Moort)". Mallee native plants nursery. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus platypus". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "Eucalyptus platypus". APNI. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  9. ↑ Hooker, William Jackson (1852). Icones Plantarum (Volume 9). London: Longman, Rees, Orme Brown, Green & Longman etc. p. 849. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  10. ↑ 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).
  11. 1 2 Brooker, M. Ian H.; Hopper, Stephen (2002). "A new classification of the genus Eucalyptus L'Hér. (Myrtaceae)". Nuytsia. 14 (3): 350–351. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Eucalyptus platypus subsp. congregata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Eucalyptus platypus subsp. platypus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Platypus Gum". Trees & Shrubs Weed profiles & Native alternatives. Lower Eyre Pest Management Group. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.