Eucalyptus laeliae

Darling Range ghost gum
A stand of Eucalyptus laeliae near Mount Cuthbert, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Eucalyptus
Species: E. laeliae
Binomial name
Eucalyptus laeliae
Podger & Chippend.
E. laeliae, field distribution

Eucalyptus laeliae, commonly known as the Darling Range ghost gum[1] or butter gum,[2] is a small to medium-sized tree occurring only on the western side of the Darling Range, particularly the western scarp, in Western Australia.

Description

The tree typically grows to a height of 5 to 20 metres (16 to 66 ft).[1] The bark is smooth, powdery, usually white but in autumn, butter yellow.[3]

Adult leaves are stalked, alternate, lanceolate or falcate to approximately 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in length with a width of 2.5 cm (0.98 in), concolorous, and dull green.[3]

It blooms in the summer[3] between December and February producing[1] profuse clusters of soft, white bristly flowers.[4]

The simple axillary conflorescence is composed of three to eleven flowered umbellasters supported on narrowly flattened or angular peduncles that are around 3 millimetres (0.118 in) wide. The buds have an obovoid or turbinate shape and are not glaucous or pruinose. The calyx calyptrate sheds early. The calyptra hemispherical or conical in appearance. When the fruits form they are hemispherical with depressed discs.[5]

Classification

The species was first formally described by the botanists Podger and Chippendale in 1968 in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society, Western Australia. The type specimen was collected by L.McGann near North Dandalup in 1966.[5] The species name laeliae is taken from the names of one of the vestal virgins.[4]

Range

The species is found on hills and amongst granite outcrops along the west coast in the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia between Kalamunda in the north, Wandering to the east and Capel to the south where it grows in sandy-clay-loam soils.[1]

The tree can be bought commercially as a seedling or as seeds. It grows well in full sun in a range of well drained soil types. It can be susceptible leaf blister, a form of insect attack.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Eucalyptus laeliae". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  2. ↑ "Butter gum (Eucalyptus laeliae)". Tree Pictures, South-Western Australia. Robert Powell. 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Brooker, M.I.H. & Kleinig, D.A. Field Guide to Eucalyptus, Bloomings, Melbourne 2001
  4. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus laeliae". Government of Western Australia. January 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Eucalyptus laeliae". EucaLink A Web Guide to the Eucalypts. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
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