Eucalyptus lucasii

Barlee box
E. lucasii capsules
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Eucalyptus
Species: E. lucasii
Binomial name
Eucalyptus lucasii

Eucalyptus lucasii, commonly known as Barlee box, is a mallee that is native to central Western Australia.[1]

The mallee tree typically grows to a height of 2 to 10 metres (7 to 33 ft) and has smooth bark that is sometimes rough at the base. It blooms between May and September producing cream-white flowers.[1] The bark is smooth throughout and persistent on the lower trunk on older trees only. It is box type bark that is fibrous-flaky with whitish patches, grey, white with both pith and bark glands present. The dull, grey-green, thin, concolorous adult leaves have a disjunct arrangement. The leaf blade has a lanceolate shape and is basally tapered with obscure lateral veins. Each compound, terminal or axillary conflorescence is made up of seven to eleven flowered umbellasters on terete peduncles. The buds are clavate with a calyx calyptrate that sheds early. The fruits that form later have a cylindrical or truncated ovoid shape with a depressed disc and enclosed valves.[2]

The species was first formally described by the botanist William Blakely in 1934 as part of the work A Key to the Eucalypts.[3] The type specimen was collected by C. Fitzgerald-Fraser from around Lake Barlee in 1919.[2] E. lucasii belongs in Eucalyptus subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Adnataria (also known as the boxes). Within the Adnataria section, E. lucasii is part of a subgroup, series Buxeales which are all found in south-eastern Australia, with only three occurring in Western Australia, those being Eucalyptus cuprea , Eucalyptus absita and Eucalyptus lucasii. All three have inflexed stamens which separates them from the eastern species.[4]

It is found on plains and hills in inland parts of the Pilbara, Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia where it grows in sandy soils.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Eucalyptus lucasii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  2. 1 2 "Eucalyptus lucasii". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Eucalyptus lucasii Blakely". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Eucalyptus absita". Euclid. CSIRO publishing. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
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