Eucalyptus distuberosa is a species of mallet that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth dark grey to tan-coloured or creamy white bark, glossy dark green, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and cup-shaped to conical fruit.
| Eucalyptus distuberosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. distuberosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus distuberosa | |
Description
editEucalyptus distuberosa is a mallet that typically grows to a height of 5–14 m (16–46 ft) but does not form a lignotuber. It has smooth dark grey to tan-coloured or creamy-white bark that is shed in long ribbons. Adult leaves are glossy dark green, lance-shaped, 60–100 mm (2.4–3.9 in) long and 8–22 mm (0.31–0.87 in) wide on a petiole 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils, usually in groups of seven on an unbranched peduncle 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long. Mature buds are oval to pear-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide with a conical to turban-shaped operculum. The flowers are white and the fruit is a woody cup-shaped to conical capsule, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide with the valves near the level of the rim.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editEucalyptus distuberosa was first formally described in 2009 by Dean Nicolle and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia from a specimen he collected in 2000 north-east of Yellowdine.[3][4] The specific epithet (distuberosa) is derived from the Latin words dis meaning "without" or "not"[5]: 562 and tuberosus meaning "full of lumps",[5]: 774 referring to the lack of a lignotuber in this species.[3]
There are two subspecies recognised by the Australian Plant Census:
Distribution
editThis mallet grows in mallee mainly between Yellowdine, the Frank Hann National Park and Norseman in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions of Western Australia. Subspecies aerata is only known from the Bronzite Ridge between Lake Johnston and Norseman.[3][8][9]
Conservation status
editEucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[8] but subspecies aerata is classified as "Priority One"[9] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Eucalyptus distuberosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Nicolle, Dean (2009). "Four obligate seeder taxa of Eucalyptus series Rufispermae (Myrtaceae) from the transitional rainfall zone of south-western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 19 (1): 85–92. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Eucalyptus distuberosa". APNI. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ "Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. aerata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. distuberosa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b "Eucalyptus distuberosa subsp. aerata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 23 June 2019.