Eucalyptus incrassata

Lerp mallee
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Eucalyptus
Species: E. incrassata
Binomial name
Eucalyptus incrassata
Eucalyptus incrassata foliage and leaves
Eucalyptus incrassata - Jardín Botánico de Barcelona

Eucalyptus incrassata, commonly known as the lerp mallee, yellow mallee, ridge fruited mallee or rib fruited mallee,[1] is a mallee that is native to southern Australia.[2]

Description

The single stemmed or multi-stemmed mallee typically grows to a height of 2 to 5 metres (7 to 16 ft) but can reach as high as 10 metres (33 ft), it usually will grow to a width of 4 to 7 m (13 to 23 ft).[3] It has rough bark on the truck that becomes smooth on the branches.[2] The bark is smooth with a grey or grey-brown colour, it sheds in strips to reveal a paler layer beneath. The adult leaves are alternate, glossy, thick and palish-green in colour. The leaves are usually 150 millimetres (5.9 in) in length and 30 mm (1.2 in) wide and have a lanceolate shape.[4] Leaves are aromatic when crushed.[1] It blooms between August and April producing cream-white-yellow blossoms.[2] The flowers appear in groups of 3 to 7 in the axils of the leaves. Buds form later that are 23 mm (0.9 in) long and 11 mm (0.43 in) wide. The buds are ellipsoid or narrowly obovoid to urn-shaped and are on stalks up to 7 mm (0.28 in) long.[4]

Distribution

It is often found along sandplains and hillsides and is distributed from the Mid West, through the Wheatbelt and along the south coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy soils.[2] It is also found in the south of South Australia extending into Victoria[4] and New South Wales.[3] Attracts nectar eating birds and insects for food and habitat.[3]

It is one of the most widespread mallee species in Australia.[5] The species is associated with the western mallee subgroup which is characterised by several eucalypts including Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus moderata, Eucalyptus eremophila, Eucalyptus foecunda, Eucalyptus redunca and Eucalyptus uncinata. The understorey is predominantly shrubby with species of Melaleuca and Acacia along with the occasional Triodia.[6]

Classification

The species was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in the work Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. There are many synonyms for the species including Eucalyptus costata as described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1855 and Eucalyptus decens as described by Kenneth Hill.[7] The name Incrassata is from the Latin 'incrassatus' meaning thickened referring to the plants thick leaves.[4]

Cultivation

E. incrassata is used as a shade tree, mass planting will offer good screening, good for ersion control or as a windbreak.[3] It is suitable mediterranean and bush style gardens[8] and responds well to coppicing.[3] It is tolerant of both drought and light frost. Able to grow in ordinary soil or enriched soil that is either acidic to alkaline and prefers a position in the full sun.[8] Seeds will germinate in 2 to 6 weeks and it can be grown from cuttings. The tree is susceptible to powdery mildew in the wetter months of winter, it can also be affected by myrtle rust and by dieback.[9]

It is also suitable to produce large amounts of biomass, able to make 10 to 20 metric tons (11 to 22 short tons) per hectare per year. In wheatbelt regions it is also beneficial as the tree will reduce salinity, give shade to stock, act as a windbreak and reduce erosion.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata". Lucid Key Server. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus incrassata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Eucalyptus incrassata Ridge Fruited Mallee". Plant Selector. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus incrassata (Myrtaceae) Yellow Mallee". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Mallee". Biomass Producer. Australian Government. 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Open mallee woodlands and sparse mallee woodlands" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Eucalyptus incrassata Labill". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Eucalyptus incrassata Ridge fruited mallee Myrtaceae". Plant this. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Eucalyptus Incrassata Yellow Mallee (also known as Eucalyptus costata)". TreeProject. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
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