Eucalyptus apiculata

Eucalyptus apiculata, commonly known as the narrow-leaved mallee ash[3] and is a mallee that is endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth white or greyish bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three to seven, white flowers and urn-shaped or barrel-shaped fruit.

foliage and flowers
flower buds

Narrow-leaved mallee ash
Eucalyptus apiculata habit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. apiculata
Binomial name
Eucalyptus apiculata
Synonyms[2]

Eucalyptus laophila L.A.S.Johnson & Blaxell

Description

Eucalyptus apiculata is a mallee with smooth white or greyish bark. Young plants and coppice regrowth have leaves arranged in opposite pairs, linear to narrow lance-shaped leaves up to 160 mm (6 in) long and 8–20 mm (0.3–0.8 in) wide. They are the same glossy green colour on both sides. Adult leaves are narrow lance-shaped, 35–110 mm (1–4 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide, the same glossy green on both sides. There is a small point or hook on the end of the leaves. The flower buds are arranged in groups of three to seven, the groups on a peduncle 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and the individual flowers a pedicel 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The mature buds are oval to club-shaped, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with a conical operculum that has a small point on its top. Flowering occurs between October and March and the flowers are white. The fruit is an urn-shaped or barrel-shaped capsule 6–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide on a pedicel 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long.[4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus apiculata was first formally described in 1902 by Richard Thomas Baker and Henry George Smith who published the description in a paper entitled A research on the eucalypts : especially in regard to their essential oils.[7] The specific epithet (apiculata) is a Latin word meaning "apiculate", referring to the leaves.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The narrow-leaved mallee ash is a rare species with a restricted distribution between Linden and Berrima where it grows in mallee shrubland.[4]

References

  1. Fensham, R., Collingwood, T. & Laffineur, B. 2019. Eucalyptus apiculata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T133377804A133377806. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T133377804A133377806.en. Downloaded on 20 September 2021.
  2. "Eucalyptus rodwayi". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  3. Brooker, M.I.H.; Kleinig, D.A. (2006). Field Guide to Eucalypts (Volume 1: South-eastern Australia) (3 ed.). Melbourne: Bloomings Books. p. 312. ISBN 1876473525.
  4. Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus apiculata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  5. "Eucalyptus apiculata". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  6. Chippendale, George McCartney. George, Alex S. (ed.). "Eucalyptus apiculata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  7. "Eucalyptus apiculata". APNI. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
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