Eucalyptus kruseana
| Book-leaf mallee | |
|---|---|
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| Eucalyptus krueseana leaves and flowers. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. kruseana |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus kruseana | |
 | |
Eucalyptus krueseana, commonly known as book-leaf mallee or Kruses's bookleaf mallee,[1] is a mallee that is endemic to inland Western Australia.[2]
Description
The mallee has a straggly habit with multiple branches and typically grows to a height of 2.5 to 4 metres (8 to 13 ft)[2] and a width of 2 to 3.5 metres (7 to 11 ft).[3] In its native area it blooms in the winter and early spring, between June and September, producing inflorescences with yellow flowers.[2] The leaves have a rounded shape, are silver-blue leaves in colour and are crowded along branches.[1] It form buds in clusters from which the flowers form.[4]
The bark is smooth, grey to pinkish grey. Adult leaves remain in the juvenile phase and are ovate, sessile, about 2.2 centimetres (0.9 in) in length and width, concolorous, dull grey. Yellow flowers appear in winter to mid spring.[5] The leaves are aromatic when crushed and arranged opposite to each other.[6]
Like most mallees the small tree forms multiple stems from a lignotuber, but in cultivation E . kruseana often forms a single stem. The bark of the main stem is minni-ritchi style that is a reddish brown colour that forms longitudinal fissures and rolls back from the edges so the pale green to grey inner bark.[4] There are oil glands present in the branchlet pith.[6]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described bu the botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1895 in the work Description of a new Eucalyptus from south-western Australia as published in the Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. Synonyms of the species include Eucalyptus morrisonii as described by Joseph Maiden in 1910 in the article On two new Western Australian species of Eucalyptus published in the Journal of the Natural History & Science Society of Western Australia.[7]
It is named after John Kruse, a German born pharmacist, who worked in Melbourne.[8]
Distribution
It has a restricted distribution on granite hills and among granite outcrops east and south east of Kalgoorlie, from Cardunia Rock north of Karonie to Binyarinyinna Rock and east of Higginsville, usually found on or near granite rock in south eastern Western Australia where it grows in sandy-loam soils.
Cultivation
The mallee is sold commercially as tube stock or in seed form. The drought and frost tolerant plant that grows in a full sun position in well is sold as on ornamental for small or large gardens.[3] It is used is gardens as privacy screening, shade producing, for hedging or as a feature. Florists use the foliage and flowers in arrangements.[1] It can withstand hard pruning to give the plant a better shape.[4]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus kruseana - Kruses's Bookleaf Mallee". Australian Outback Plants. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus krueseana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
- 1 2 "Eucalyptus kruseana". Australian Native Plants. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- 1 2 3 "Bookleaf Mallee Eucalyptus kruseana" (PDF). Native Plants Notice. Kings Park and Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ Brooker, M.I.H. & Kleinig, D.A. Field Guide to Eucalyptus, Bloomings, Melbourne 2001
- 1 2 "Eucalyptus kruseana". Factsheet. Lucid Central. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ "Eucalyptus kruseana F.Muell". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ↑ "Eucalyptus kruseana". Australian Native Plants Society. June 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2012.