Eucalyptus todtiana

Coastal Blackbutt
A remnant Coastal blackbutt in Victoria Park, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Myrtales
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Eucalyptus
Species: E. todtiana
Binomial name
Eucalyptus todtiana
Conservation sign adjacent to Victoria Park specimen
The same tree as above, five years later in 2012. In poor condition despite the conservation warnings.

Eucalyptus todtiana is a species of tree native to south-western Australia. Common names include blackbutt, coastal blackbutt and pricklybark.[1] The Noongar name for the tree is dwutta.[2]

Description

E. todtiana grows to about 15 metres (49 ft) as a tree (with single trunk) or as a mallee (i.e. with multiple trunks) to 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26.2 ft).[3][4] It has a weeping habit and rough fibrous grey/brown bark with tough, fine fibres.[5] The dense, spreading[6] and pendulous canopy is made up of light green to mid-green leaves.[4]

It produces cream and white flowers from January to April.

The slow growing[7] long lived species is a habitat tree for many local fauna such as nectar-feeding birds, bats, lizards and insects[6] and mature trees have good form and are stable.[4] It is both frost and drought tolerant.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Eucalyptus todtiana generally grows near the crests of low sandy rises in the Bassendean sands, sometimes over laterite and more mostly with Jarrah and Marri (Corymbia calophylla) in the west. Also over Banksia and Sheoak in the east.[5] It prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position.[5]

Distribution is mainly between Perth and Dongara in the Southwest Botanical Province, occurring at the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain regions.[3]

Due to diminishing remnant bushlands within the Perth metropolitan area, individual trees are becoming less common. One specimen on Kitchener Road, Victoria Park (pictured) adjacent to the Armadale railway line in the Town of Victoria Park, was listed on the Council's Significant Tree List, but has since died and been cut down.

Taxonomy

It was first described by Ferdinand von Mueller in 1882, based on specimens collected by him from sandy ridges near the Greenough and Arrowsmith Rivers in 1877, and also specimens collected by John Forrest from near the Moore River. The specific name honours Emil Todt, a botanical artist who drew some of the plates for Mueller's Atlas of Eucalypts.[8] It has had an uneventful taxonomic history, with no subspecies or varieties, and no synonyms.[9] In the most recent infrageneric classification, it is placed in E. subg. Eucalyptus, sect. Hesperia, ser. Todtianae.[10]

Cultivation

E. todtiana is not often grown in cultivation. It grows rapidly as a sapling if planted in an open position, but as an adult it grows slowly and flowers profusely.[11]

Uses

Indigenous Australians used parts of the tree for medicinal purposes. The leaves as a nasal decongestant or as an antibacterial poultice by crushing the leaves. Leaves were also eaten to relieve dysentry. The gum was also used on sores as an ointment. Leaves from the tree were also commonly used for bedding.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Australian Plant Common Name Database". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Eucalyptus todtiana Common name: Prickly Bark". Friends of Queens Park bushland. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Eucalyptus todtiana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  4. 1 2 3 "Coastal Blackbutt fact sheet" (PDF). City of Stirling. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Remnant Vegetation Plan" (PDF). Town of Victoria Park. August 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 Sabrina Hahn. "Plant profile: Coastal blackbutt". The West Australian. Seven West Media.
  7. ↑ "Eucalyptus todtiana 'Coastal Blackbutt'". Ellenby Tree Farm. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Hall, Norman (1978). Botanists of the Eucalypts. Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. ISBN 0-643-00271-5.
  9. ↑ "Eucalyptus todtiana F.Muell". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  10. ↑ Powell, Robert (1990). Leaf & Branch. Department of Conservation and Land Management. ISBN 0-7309-3916-2.
  • "Eucalyptus todtiana Pricklybark ; Coastal blackbutt". Kensington Bushland Reserve - Town of Victoria Park. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
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