Eucalyptus preissiana

Last updated

Bell-fruited mallee
Eucalyptus preissiana habit.jpg
Eucalyptus preissiana in Helms Arboretum, near Esperance
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. preissiana
Binomial name
Eucalyptus preissiana
leaves, flower buds and flowers Eucalyptus preissiana buds.jpg
leaves, flower buds and flowers
fruit Eucalyptus preissiana fruit.jpg
fruit

Eucalyptus preissiana, commonly known as bell-fruited mallee, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus preissiana is a mallee that typically grows to a height of 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) with a sprawling habit, and forms a lignotuber. It has smooth, greyish and brown bark. Young plants and coppice regrowth have stems that are square in cross-section and elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are the greyish green, 50–93 mm (2.0–3.7 in) long, 30–62 mm (1.2–2.4 in) wide and arranged in opposite pairs. Adult leaves are sometimes arranged alternately, the same shade of dull greyish green on both sides, elliptical to egg-shaped or oblong, 65–130 mm (2.6–5.1 in) long and 25–50 mm (0.98–1.97 in) wide on a petiole 10–40 mm (0.39–1.57 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils on a flattened, unbranched peduncle 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long. Mature buds are oval, 15–26 mm (0.59–1.02 in) long and 13–18 mm (0.51–0.71 in) wide with a conical to rounded operculum. Flowering occurs from September to November and the flowers are yellow. The fruit is a woody, cup-shaped, conical or bell-shaped capsule 15–27 mm (0.59–1.06 in) long and 20–38 mm (0.79–1.50 in) wide with lobes between the valves. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus preissiana was first formally described in 1844 by the Johannes Conrad Schauer and the description was published in Lehmann's book Plantae Preissianae. [7] The specific epithet honours Ludwig Preiss who collected the type specimen near Cape Riche in 1840. [8]

In 1995 Ian Brooker and Andrew Slee described two subspecies and the names have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census: [9]

Distribution

Bell-fruited mallee is found in coastal and sub-coastal areas among limestone and laterite and grows in gravelly sandy-clay soils. It occurs in coastal and near-coastal areas from the Stirling Range to the Fitzgerald River National Park and almost to Esperance to the east. [2] [3] Subspecies lobata only occurs in coastal areas in a few places between Esperance and Hopetoun. [3]

Conservation status

Subspecies preissiana is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [12] but subspecies lobata is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, [13] meaning that is rare or near threatened. [14]

Use in horticulture

Bell-fruited mallee can be cultivated in temperate areas of Australia but performs poorly in tropical environments. It is propagated from seeds and germinates easily. It prefers a position in full sun and in well-drained soils. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Eucalyptus eremophila, commonly known as the sand mallet or tall sand mallee, is a species of mallet that is endemic to semi-arid regions of Western Australia. It has smooth pale brown and greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped to elliptical adult leaves, flower buds arranged in groups of between seven and eleven with an elongated operculum, and cup-shaped to barrel-shaped 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 rudis</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus rudis, commonly known as flooded gum or moitch, is a species of small to medium-sized tree endemic to coastal areas near Perth, Western Australia. The Noongar names for the tree are colaille, gooloorto, koolert and moitch. This tree has rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and large branches, smooth greyish bark above, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and bell-shaped, cup-shaped or hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus polyanthemos, commonly known as red box, is a species of small to medium-sized tree, that is native to eastern Australia but has been introduced into other countries. It has fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, smooth greyish to cream-coloured bark above, or smooth bark throughout. It has broadly egg-shaped to round juvenile leaves, lance-shaped, egg-shaped or almost round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and barrel-shaped to conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus ebbanoensis, commonly known as the sandplain mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, whitish flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus foecunda, commonly known as narrow-leaved red mallee, Fremantle mallee or coastal dune mallee, is a species of plant in the myrtle family that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough bark on the trunk, smooth bark above, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of nine or eleven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped fruit. It was previously included with the more widespread Eucalyptus leptophylla.

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

Eucalyptus calcicola, commonly known as the Boranup mallee, Harry Butler's mallee or Hamelin Bay mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth, pale greenish bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and ribbed, cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Eucalyptus calycogona</i> Species of plant in Australia

Eucalyptus calycogona, commonly known as the gooseberry mallee or square fruited mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds that are square in cross-section arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils, creamy white, sometimes pink flowers, and fruit that are square in cross-section.

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

Eucalyptus jutsonii, commonly known as Jutson's mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, fibrous bark on its stems, smooth pinkish to greyish brown bark above, glossy green, linear adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, cream-coloured flowers and shortened spherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus mannensis, commonly known as Mann Range mallee, is a species of mallee that is native to Western Australia, South Australian and the Northern Territory. It has rough bark at the base of the trunk, smooth bark above, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, creamy white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus phenax, commonly known as green dumosa mallee or white mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, white flowers and cup-shaped to cylindrical fruit.

Eucalyptus quadrans is a species of mallee or a small tree that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth, greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped fruit that are square in cross-section.

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

Eucalyptus sargentii, commonly known as Salt River gum, is a species of mallet, mallee or small tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough bark on part or all of the trunk, smooth bark above, linear to narrow lance-shaped leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, whitish to creamy yellow flowers and conical fruit.

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

Eucalyptus striaticalyx, commonly known as Cue York gum or kopi gum, is a species of tree or mallee that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, rough, fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and thirteen, creamy white flowers and conical to cup-shaped fruit.

Eucalyptus suggrandis is a species of mallee that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth, shiny bark, linear to elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, creamy white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.

Eucalyptus thamnoides, also known as brown mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to south western Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, cream-coloured to pale yellow flowers and cup-shaped, conical or bell-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus conglobata, also known as the cong mallee or Port Lincoln mallee, is a species of eucalypt that is native to the south coast of Western Australia and South Australia. It is a mallee with smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and clustered hemispherical 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 densa</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus densa is a species of mallee or mallet that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark that is shed in curly strips, linear to narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, long, spindle-shaped flower buds in groups of seven or nine, pale yellow or lemon-coloured flowers and conical, cylindrical or barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Kunzea preissiana</i> Species of shrub

Kunzea preissiana is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a shrub with hairy branches and leaves, pink to mauve flowers in groups on the ends of shoots, and twenty to thirty stamens about the same length as the petals. It is a widespread, often locally common species across its range.

References

  1. "Eucalyptus preissiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus preissiana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus preissiana". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  4. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus preissiana". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Eucalyptus preissiana". Australian Native Plants Society. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  6. Holliday, I.; Watton, G. (1980). A Gardener's Guide to Eucalypts. Australia: Rigby. ISBN   0727012576.
  7. "Eucalyptus preissiana". APNI. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  8. Lehmann, Johann Georg Christian (ed.); Schauer, Johannes Conrad (1844). Plantae Preissianae. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. pp. 131–132. Retrieved 5 December 2019.{{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  9. 1 2 3 Brooker, M. Ian H.; Slee, Andrew V. (1995). "Eucalyptus series Preissianae (Myrtaceae), a new series of Western Australian eucalypts and the description of a new subspecies in the series". Nuytsia. 10 (1): 12–13. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. "Eucalyptus preissiana subsp. lobata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  11. "Eucalyptus preissiana subsp. preissiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  12. "Eucalyptus preissiana subsp. preissiana". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  13. "Eucalyptus preissiana subsp. lobata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  14. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 5 December 2019.