Eucalyptus_fitzgeraldii

<i>Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii</i>

Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii

Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii, commonly known as the broad-leaved box[2] or the paper-barked box,[3] is a tree that is endemic to Western Australia. It has rough, flaky bark, flower buds arranged in groups of seven and bell-shaped to urn-shaped fruit.

Quick Facts Broad-leaved box, Conservation status ...

Description

Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii is a tree that typically grows to a height of 5 to 15 metres (16 to 49 ft) and has rough, grey, fibrous or flaky bark that is shed in papery flakes. Adult leaves are egg-shaped to more or less round, glossy when fresh, up to 100 mm (3.9 in) long and 120 mm (4.7 in) wide on a petiole up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven on a peduncle 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. Mature buds have a conical to bell-shaped floral cup 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and wide with a conical to hemispherical operculum 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. Flowering occurs between August and September and the flowers are whitish cream.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii was first formally described in 1934 by William Blakely from a specimen collected between Tabletop Mountain and the Artesian Range near the Charnley River by William Vincent Fitzgerald.[6] The specific epithet (fitzgeraldii) honours the collector of the type specimen.[7][8]

Distribution

The broad-leaved box is found on rocky hillsides and plains in the northern Kimberley region of Western Australia where it grows in clay soils around basalt or dolerite.[4]

Conservation status

This eucalypt is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[4] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[9]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Eucalypts of Northern Australia: ecological & conservation values. A Summary" (PDF). Kimberley to Cape. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. [3]
    Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. [5]
    "Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  6. [6]
    "Eucalyptus fitzgeraldii". APNI. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  7. [7]
    "Fitzgerald, William Vincent". Encyclopedia of Australian science. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. [8]
    "Fitzgerald, William Vincent". Trove; National Library of Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
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