Eucalyptus_costuligera

<i>Eucalyptus costuligera</i>

Eucalyptus costuligera

Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus costuligera is a species of small tree that is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has short-fibrous or flaky bark on the trunk and branches, bluish, lance-shaped adult leaves, club-shaped flower buds in branched or unbranched inflorescences with the buds in groups of up to seven, creamy-white flowers and conical, cup-shaped or pear-shaped fruit.

Quick Facts Eucalyptus costuligera, Conservation status ...

Description

Eucalyptus costuligera is a tree that typically grows to a height of 5–10 m (16–33 ft) and has persistent pale grey, fibrous or flaky "box"-type bark on the trunk and branches. The adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same grey-green or bluish colour on both sides, lance-shaped, 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) long and 17–30 mm (0.67–1.18 in) wide on a channelled or flattened petiole up to 22 mm (0.87 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of up to seven on a branched or unbranched peduncle 1–15 mm (0.039–0.591 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long. Mature flower buds are club-shaped, about 7 mm (0.28 in) long and 4 mm (0.16 in) wide with faint ribs along the sides. The operculum is hemispherical, about half as long as the floral cup. The flowers are a white-cream colour and the fruit is a woody cylindrical, cup-shaped or pear-shaped capsule 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide with fine ribs along the sides and the valves enclosed below the rim.[3][4][1]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus costuligera was first formally described in 2000 by Lawrie Johnson and Ken Hill from a specimen collected 60 km (37 mi) from the Derby-Gibb River Road, on the road to Wyndham.[4][5] The specific epithet (costuligera) is derived from the Latin costula, meaning "a costule or rib" (strictly the midrib of a fern frond) and -ger meaning "-bearing", referring to the finely ribbed fruit.[4][6]

Distribution and habitat

This eucalypt has a limited range but is abundant in a small area in the central Kimberley region of Western Australia, growing in savannah woodland in sandy to loamy soils over laterite.[1][4]

Conservation status

This species is classified as is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[1] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[7]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Eucalyptus costuligera". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. [2]
    "Eucalyptus costuligera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Eucalyptus costuligera L.A.S. Johnson & K.D. Hill, Telopea 8(4): 527 (2000)". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. [4]
    Hill, Kenneth D.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (2000). "Systematic studies in the eucalypts. 10. New tropical and subtropical eucalypts from Australia and New Guinea". Telopea. 8 (4): 527–529. doi:10.7751/telopea20002007.
  5. [5]
    "Eucalyptus costuligera". APNI. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  6. [6]
    Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 172. ISBN 9780958034180.
  7. [7]
    "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
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