Eucalyptus_annulata

<i>Eucalyptus annulata</i>

Eucalyptus annulata

Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus annulata, commonly known as the open-fruited mallee[2] or prickly -fruited mallee,[3]: A2  is a mallee that is native to Western Australia.[2]

Quick Facts Open-fruited mallee, Conservation status ...
flowers
bark
flower buds
fruit

Description

Eucalyptus annulata is a mallee that grows to a height of 1.5 to 8 metres (5 to 26 ft)[2] and can form a poorly developed[4] lignotuber[5] the canopy can grow up to about 7 m (23 ft) wide.[6] It has an oily grey-green to red-brown smooth bark and angular branchlets with pith oil glands. The leaves are glossy green with a blade that is narrowly lanceolate and are 6 to 11.5 centimetres (2 to 5 in) long and 0.7 to 1.6 centimetres (0 to 1 in) wide.[5]

It blooms between June and December producing inflorescences with yellow-white-cream flowers.[2] Each simple, axillary conflorescence is composed of three to seven flowered umbellasters on narrowly flattened or angular peduncles. The cylindrical or conical or rostrate buds have a calyx calyptrate that sheds early. Fruits that form later have a hemispherical shape with a flat disc flat and exserted valves[7] with a width of 0.8 to 1.2 centimetres (0.31 to 0.47 in).[5]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the botanist George Bentham in 1867 as part of the work Orders XLVIII. Myrtaceae- LXII. Compositae published in Flora Australiensis.[8] The type specimen was collected by George Maxwell from around the Salt River.[7] The species name annulata is taken from the latin word annulatus meaning marked with a ring or ringlike which refers to the disc of the fruit.[5] E. annulata is part of the Eucalyptus subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Bisectae sub-section Glandulosae. It is related to the gimlets (series Contortae) by the similar habit and type of bark as well as the large exserted valves of the fruit. It is most closely related to two mallet species E. protensa and E. extansa both of which are found in the north-eastern part of its range.[5]

Distribution

It is found extending inland along the south coast of the Great Southern and Wheatbelt region of Western Australia between Albany, Western Australia, Ravensthorpe and Gnowangerup where it grows in sandy-loamy-clay soils.[2]

Cultivation

The plant is sold commercially in seed form[9] and, like most Eucalypts, germinates easily. It prefers a full position and will tolerate light frost and drought once established.[6] It is grown in gardens as a shade tree or as an informal screen or windbreak.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Fensham, R.; Laffineur, B.; Collingwood, T. (2019). "Eucalyptus annulata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T133377783A133377785. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133377783A133377785.en. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Eucalyptus annulata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. [3]
    "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Approved Conservation Advice - Appendices for the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. [4]
    R. H. Groves (1994). Australian Vegetation. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521424769.
  5. [5]
    "Eucalyptus annulata". Euclid. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Eucalyptus annulata Open fruited mallee Myrtaceae". Plant This. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Eucalyptus annulata". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Eucalyptus annulata Benth". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Eucalyptus annulata Open-fruited mallee". Nindethana Australian Seeds. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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