Eucalyptus urnigera

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Urn gum
A critical revision of the genus Eucalyptus (1903-33.) (20524017418).jpg
Sketches of E. urnigera from A critical revision of the genus Eucalyptus (1903-33).
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. urnigera
Binomial name
Eucalyptus urnigera
Synonyms [1]
  • Eucalyptus urnigera var. elongata Rodway
  • Eucalyptus urnigeraHook.f. var. urnigera

Eucalyptus urnigera, commonly known as urn tree, [2] is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

Contents

Description

Eucalyptus urnigera is an evergreen tree that typically grows to a height of 5–15 m (16–49 ft), although specimens up to 45 m (148 ft) have been recorded in sheltered lower altitude positions. The spread of the tree is typically to 10 m (33 ft). The tree has a lignotuber and often a gnarled appearance in exposed areas, however, in more sheltered and lower altitude sites it grows tall and straight. The bark is smooth, mottled grey, orange-tan to olive green over cream and is shed in flakes and the branchlets are often glaucous. Young plants and coppice regrowth have leaves that are sessile, heart-shaped to round, 12–28 mm (0.47–1.10 in) long and 13–28 mm (0.51–1.10 in) wide, arranged in opposite pairs with stem-clasping bases and finely notched or scalloped edges. The leaves range from being dark green in sheltered environments to glaucous in exposed areas. Adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same shade of green on both sides, lance-shaped to broadly lance-shaped or elliptical, 35–90 mm (1.4–3.5 in) long and 10–28 mm (0.39–1.10 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 7–30 mm (0.28–1.18 in) long. The lateral veins diverge at angles of 25-60 degrees. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of three on a down-turned peduncle 5–25 mm (0.20–0.98 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 1–13 mm (0.039–0.512 in) long. Mature buds are cylindrical or urn-shaped and often glaucous, 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide with a flattened hemispherical, slightly beaked operculum that is wider than the floral cup at the join. Flowering occurs in most months with a peak from April to July, and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, urn-shaped capsule 9–15 mm (0.35–0.59 in) long and 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) wide with the valves below rim level. [2] [3] [6] [7]

Variation in leaf colour

Unlike many eucalypts, E. urnigera displays a morphological unity across the species with one important exception. There is a significant variation in the level of glaucicity (waxiness) between E. urnigera in lower altitude shady forest and those trees in the more exposed higher altitude sites. This was studied by Barber and Jackson in 1957 [8] and followed up in later studies. E. urnigera at lower altitudes (560–670 m) and in sheltered sites are uniformly green whereas at higher altitude (950–1050 m), E. urnigera is uniformly glaucous. The transition from one phenotype to the other is most clearly seen on a steep section of walking track below the Chalet on the Pinnacle Road. Within 200 m altitude the transition is made. It is believed that the lower light conditions of the relatively closed sub-alpine forest favours the green leaved phenotype, being able to more efficiently photosynthesize in lower light conditions than the glaucous phenotype. However, at the more exposed higher altitude where there is more direct sunlight the glaucous phenotype is favoured. The wax coating reflects infra redlight and probably assists in protecting the tree from frost. [9] Further research has explored reflectance of ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation. [10]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the nineteenth century English botanist, Joseph Hooker, in William Jackson Hooker's London Journal of Botany in 1847, from specimens collected by the colonial botanist Ronald Campbell Gunn from Mount Wellington and Lake Echo. [11] [12] The specific epithet (urnigera) comes from the Latin urna, meaning "urn" and gero, meaning "to bear". It relates to the distinctive urn shaped buds and seed capsules. [13] [14]

Distribution and habitat

Eucalyptus urnigera is an endemic Tasmanian alpine eucalypt of the sub genus Symphomyrtus and is the dominant eucalypt species at altitudes from 600 to 1,000 metres (1,969 to 3,281 ft) on moist but well drained dolerite slopes and talus. It is restricted to the mountains of south eastern Tasmania, the Mount Wellington range, Mount Field and isolated pockets from Tylers Hill near Southport, 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Hobart, north to Alma Tier near Interlaken and Mount Seymour east of Oatlands in central Tasmania and a small population on the eastern side of Maria Island off the east coast. Typically, it is found below the range of E. coccifera (snow gum) and above the mixed and wet sclerophyll forests of the lower slopes although it will grow within both vegetation types.

Ecology

The flowers of E. urnigera are pollinated by birds such as yellow-throated honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavicollis), black-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis) and strong-billed honeyeater (Melithreptus validirostris). [15]

Use in horticulture

Eucalyptus urnigera does not have any commercial use as a timber tree in Tasmania but it is prized as a specimen tree in cooler regions of the United States of America and in the British Isles. Grafton Nursery in Worcestershire (UK) considers it superior to E.gunni, a eucalypt commonly grown in the UK. Its colourful bark and foliage make it a valuable as a garden ornamental. Its lignotuber enables coppicing and is proposed as one of the varieties for United Kingdom firewood production. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Eucalyptus gunnii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae

Eucalyptus gunnii, commonly known as cider gum, is a species of large tree in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the island of Tasmania, Australia. It has mostly smooth bark, lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and cylindrical to barrel-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus melanophloia, commonly known as silver-leaved ironbark, is a species of tree that is endemic to northeastern Australia. It is a small to medium-sized tree with rough, hard ironbark on the trunk and branches. The crown is usually composed of juvenile leaves that are dull, glaucous, sessile and arranged in opposite pairs. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven, the flowers white and the fruit cup-shaped to hemispherical.

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

Eucalyptus cordata, commonly known as the heart-leaved silver gum is a shrub to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has smooth bark throughout, mostly only juvenile, more or less heart-shaped, glaucous leaves, glaucous flower buds arranged in groups of three, white flowers and cylindrical or hemispherical fruit.

<i>Corymbia maculata</i> Species of plant

Corymbia maculata, commonly known as spotted gum, is a species of medium-sized to tall tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth, mottled bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of three, white flowers and urn-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia gummifera</i> Species of plant

Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as red bloodwood, is a species of tree, rarely a mallee, that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus coccifera, commonly known as the Tasmanian snow gum, is a small to medium-sized tree endemic to Tasmania. It has smooth, grey and cream-coloured bark, elliptic to lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between three and nine, usually white flowers and conical, hemispherical or cup-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus vernicosa, commonly known as varnished gum, is a species of shrub or a mallee that is endemic to mountainous areas of Tasmania. It has smooth greyish bark, crowded, egg-shaped to elliptical or round leaves, flower buds singly or in groups of three in leaf axils, white flowers and hemispherical or bell-shaped fruit.

<i>Corymbia terminalis</i> Species of plant

Corymbia terminalis, also known as tjuta, joolta, bloodwood, desert bloodwood, plains bloodwood, northern bloodwood, western bloodwood or inland bloodwood, is a species of small to medium-sized tree, rarely a mallee that is endemic to Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on some or all of the trunk, sometimes also on the larger branches, smooth white to cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.

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

Eucalyptus risdonii, commonly known as the Risdon peppermint, is a species of small tree that is endemic to a small area in southern Tasmania. It has smooth bark, a crown composed mostly of sessile, glaucous, egg-shaped juvenile leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The flower buds are arranged in groups of between nine and fifteen and the fruit are cup-shaped, conical or hemispherical.

<i>Corymbia trachyphloia</i> Species of plant

Corymbia trachyphloia, commonly known as brown bloodwood, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough, tessellated bark on the trunk, often also on the larger branches, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and urn-shaped 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.

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

Eucalyptus subcrenulata, commonly known as Tasmanian alpine yellow gum, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to the highlands of Tasmania. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped to egg-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and hemispherical to bell-shaped fruit. It is similar to E. johnstonii, E. vernicosa and E. urnigera.

Eucalyptus conspicua, commonly known as Gippsland swamp-box, is a species of small tree that is endemic to southeastern Australia. It has rough, thick, fibrous bark from the trunk to its small branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical or hemispherical fruit. The crown of the tree is composed of a dull bluish-green juvenile, intermediate and adult leaves.

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

Eucalyptus transcontinentalis, commonly known as redwood or boongul, is a species of small to medium-sized tree, sometimes a mallet, that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of seven, pale yellow flowers and urn-shaped to barrel-shaped 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 ceracea</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus ceracea also known as the Seppelt Range gum or Seppelt Range yellow-jacket, is a species of small tree or mallee that is endemic to a small area in the north of Western Australia. It has thick, fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and larger branches, dull, glaucous, egg-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of seven or nine, bright orange flowers and urn-shaped fruit. The leaves, buds and fruit are covered with a white wax.

Eucalyptus chartaboma, commonly known as paperbark gum, is a eucalypt that is endemic to Queensland. It is a medium-sized tree with soft, papery, fibrous bark on the lower trunk, smooth white to pale cream-coloured bark above, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, orange-coloured flowers and oval to urn-shaped fruit. The flower buds and fruit have distinct ribs along their sides.

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.

<i>Eucalyptus pauciflora <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> niphophila</i> Subspecies of plant

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila, commonly known as snow gum, is a small tree or large shrub that is native to a few mountain peaks in eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit. It differs from other subspecies of E. pauciflora in having more delicate, pedicellate flower buds and smaller leaves.

<i>Eucalyptus pauciflora <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> pauciflora</i> Species of plant

Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora, commonly known as snow gum, cabbage gum or white sally is a tree or mallee that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth bark, glossy green, lance-shaped, curved or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of between nine and fifteen, white flowers and cup-shaped, hemispherical or conical fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus urnigera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus urnigera". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus urnigera". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. "Eucalyptus urnigera - urn gum". Windmill Outback Nursery. 2003. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  5. "Eucalyptus urnigera". Davis Landscape architecture. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. "Eucalyptus urnigera". Understorey Network Incorporated. 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. Curtis, W. M., & Morris, D. L., The Students Flora of Tasmania, Part 1, second edition 1975, Hobart, p 217
  8. Barber, H.N., and Jackson,.W. D. (1957), Natural Selection in Eucalyptus, Nature 179, pp 1267-1269, cited in Vegetation of Tasmania.
  9. Vegetation of Tasmania, p 214
  10. Close, D.C.; Davidson, N.J.; Shields, C.B. & Wiltshire, R. (2007). "Reflectance and Phenolics of green and glaucous leaves of Eucalyptus urnigera". Australian Journal of Botany. 55 (5): 561. doi:10.1071/BT06037.
  11. "Eucalyptus urnigera". APNI. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  12. Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1847). Hooker, William Jackson (ed.). "Florae Tasmaniae Spicilegium: or, Contributions towards a Flora of Van Diemen's Land". London Journal of Botany. 6: 477. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  13. "Eucalyptus urnigera" (PDF). National Register of Big Trees. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  14. "Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus urnigera". University of Tasmania . Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  15. "Birdlife of Wellington Park" (PDF). Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  16. "Eucalyptus urnigera - The Urn Tree". Grafton Nursery. Retrieved 16 November 2016.

Footnotes