Eucalyptus populnea

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Poplar box
Eucalyptus populnea tree.jpg
Eucalyptus populnea in central coastal Queensland
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. populnea
Binomial name
Eucalyptus populnea
Eucalyptus populnea range.jpeg
Distribution of Eucalyptus populnea
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus populifolia Hook. nom. illeg.
  • Eucalyptus populifoliaHook. var. populifolia
  • Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbilL.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill
  • Eucalyptus populneaF.Muell.subsp. populnea
  • Eucalyptus populneaF.Muell.var. populnea
flower buds and flowers Eucalyptus populnea buds.jpg
flower buds and flowers
leaves Eucalyptus populnea leaf.jpg
leaves

Eucalyptus populnea, commonly known as poplar box, bimble box [2] or bimbil box, [3] is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches, egg-shaped, elliptical or more or less round leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of seven to fifteen or more, white flowers and conical, hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus populnea is a tree that typically grows to a height of 20 m (66 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, fibrous or flaky, greyish bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth grey bark that is shed in short ribbons from the thinner branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have egg-shaped to almost round, dull greyish green leaves that are 60–115 mm (2.4–4.5 in) long and 35–95 mm (1.4–3.7 in) wide. The crown has leaves that are the same shade of glossy green on both sides, egg-shaped, elliptical or more or less round leaves that are 40–110 mm (1.6–4.3 in) long and 18–50 mm (0.71–1.97 in) wide tapering to a petiole 10–32 mm (0.39–1.26 in) long. The flower buds are mostly arranged on the ends of branchlets in groups of seven to fifteen or more, on a branched peduncle 4–11 mm (0.16–0.43 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long. Mature buds are oblong to spherical, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide with a conical to rounded operculum. Flowering occurs from August to December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, conical, hemispherical or cup-shaped capsule 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and wide with the valves near rim level. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus populnea was first formally described in 1858 by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany . [6] [7] The specific epithet populnea is a Latin adjective referring to the poplar-like foliage. [8]

The common names bimble box and bimbil box are from the Wiradjuri name for the species. [9] Other common names recorded include round-leaf box, red box, white box, egolla, nankeen gum, round-leaved box and shiny-leaf box. [10]

In 1990, Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill described two subspecies, populnea and bimbil but the names have not been accepted by the Australian Plant Census. [9] [11]

Hybrids with E. populnea have been recorded but only one, Eucalyptus populnea F.Muell. × Eucalyptus thozetiana (F.Muell. ex Maiden) R.T.Baker is accepted at the Australian Plant Census. [12]

Distribution and habitat

Poplar box is widespread in New South Wales where it is found on the western plains north from Narrandera and Pooncarie, extending into Queensland as far as Rockhampton. It is most abundant in the northern and central sections on the western plains, becoming gradually less common the New South Wales far west, where it is restricted to areas that are more reliably watered and sandier. [10]

This eucalypt is most commonly found on red soils with a sandy loam to clay loam texture, growing in association with gum coolibah ( E. intertexta ), grey box ( E. microcarpa ) and white cypress pine ( Callitris glaucophylla ). It can be found less commonly on sandplains composed of deep loamy sands, where it will be found growing with ironwood ( Acacia excelsa ) and mulga ( Acacia aneura ). In the far west of New South Wales it grows in small terminal drainage depressions with sandy soils overlying clay at depth. [10]

Ecology

It is a favoured food tree for koalas in the range where it occurs. [13]

Uses

The flowers of E. populnea produce honey of a good quality, but of limited supply, and which is very dense and pale amber in colour. The timber has been found to be durable and hard and is suitable for fence posts and construction work. However it is not any easy to work timber and is susceptible to white ant attack. It is a suitable species for a windbreak, as it can be propagated easily and is not difficult to establish. It is an excellent fuel, producing a great deal of heat and burns cleanly. [10]

Conservation

Although it is widespread, the conservation status of E. populnea and allied plant communities is poor. Along the eastern edge of the species' distribution, only a small remnant of some communities occur on the better soil types. There are also a number of minor communities which only occur in limited areas, with very few of these represented in conservation areas such as national parks or nature reserves. [14]

Protected areas in which significant populations can be found include the Yathong Nature Reserve in New South Wales. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eucalyptus conica, commonly known as fuzzy box, is a species of tree endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth above, lance-shaped adult leaves, oval to diamond-shaped flower buds mostly arranged on a branching inflorescence on the ends of the branchlets, white flowers and conical fruit.

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

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

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<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.

Eucalyptus corticosa, also known as Creswick apple-box or Olinda box is a species of small tree that is endemic to a small area in south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and branches, dull green, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, oval flower buds arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils and cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

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

Eucalyptus gracilis, commonly known as yorrell, snap and rattle, red mallee, white mallee or kong mallee, is a species of mallee or small tree endemic to Australia, where it is found in south-western New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It has smooth white bark, usually with rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the lower stems, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in group of between seven and eleven and cup-shaped, cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus hypostomatica, commonly known as Pokolbin box, is a species of erect, medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has rough, flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped or conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus largeana, commonly known as the Craven grey box, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. 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 cup-shaped or barrel-shaped 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.

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 thozetiana</i> Species of eucalyptus

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

Eucalyptus microneura, commonly known as Gilbert River box, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flowers in groups of seven on a branching peduncle, white flowers and conical 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus populnea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus populnea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Eucalyptus populnea". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Brooker, M.I.H.; Kleinig, D.A. (1983). Field Guide to Eucalypts Volume 1 (1st ed.). Inkata Press. p. 240. ISBN   0909605319.
  5. ↑ Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus populnea". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  6. ↑ "Eucalyptus populnea". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  7. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). "Monograph of the Eucalypti of tropical Australia". Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Botany. 3: 93. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "Brachychiton populneus - Growing Native Plants".
  9. 1 2 Johnson, Lawrence A.S.; Hill, Kenneth D. (1990). "New taxa and combination in Eucalyptus and Angophora (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 4 (1): 70–72. doi: 10.7751/telopea19904916 .
  10. 1 2 3 4 Cunningham, G.M.; Mulham, W.E.; Milthorpe, P.L.; Leigh, J.H. (1992). Plants of Western New South Wales. Inkata Press. p. 524. ISBN   0409306878.
  11. ↑ "Eucalyptus populnea subsp. bimbil". APNI. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Eucalyptus populnea × Eucalyptus thozetiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ↑ Beeston, G.R.; Walker, P.J.; Purdie, R.; Pickard, J. (1980). "Plant communities of the poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) lands of eastern Australia". The Rangeland Journal. 2 (1): 14. doi:10.1071/RJ9800001.
  15. ↑ Yathong Nature Reserve, Nombinnie Nature Reserve and Round Hill Nature Reserve: Plan of management (PDF). November 1996. ISBN   0-7310-0845-6 . Retrieved 17 June 2018.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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