Biology:Eucalyptus megacornuta

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Short description: Species of eucalyptus

Warted yate
Flower of an unidentified Eucalyptus tree.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. megacornuta
Binomial name
Eucalyptus megacornuta
C.A.Gardner[1]
Eucalyptus megacornuta habit in Jardín Botánico de Barcelona
Eucalyptus megacornuta conflorescence

Eucalyptus megacornuta, also known as warted yate or warty yate,[2] is a species of Eucalyptus that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.[3]

Description

The tree typically grows to a height of 4 to 12 metres (13 to 39 ft)[3] with a crown of up to about 6 m (20 ft) wide. E. megacornuta has the habit of a small tree or shrub with a smooth brown to grey-red and green trunk[2] and smooth bark over the length of the trunk and branches. The dull, green, thick and concolorous adult leaves have a disjunct arrangement. The leaf blade has lanceolate to elliptic shape that is basally tapered.[4]

It produces large yellow-green flowers that occur from July to October in the species' native range.[3] Each simple, axillary conflorescence is made up of three to seven flowered umbellasters on broadly flattened peduncles.[4] The fruits or capsules are clustered and sessile on a flattened peduncle. They have a campanulate shape with one prominent rib with many weak ribs. The capsules are 1.8 to 4 centimetres (0.7 to 1.6 in) in length and 2.2 to 2.5 cm (0.9 to 1.0 in) wide with three exserted valves.[5]

Taxonomy

The species was formally described by botanist Charles Austin Gardner in 1942[6] as part of the work Contributiones Florae Australiae Occidentalis as published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia.[7] The type specimen was collected by Gardner in 1935 near Ravensthorpe.[4] The specific epithet (megacornuta) means "large-horned", referring to the operculum.[8]

E. megacornuta is very similar in appearance to the closely related Beaufort Inlet Mallee (Eucalyptus newbeyi) and Burdett's mallee (Eucalyptus burdettiana).[9]

Distribution

The species is found on hillsides and in creek beds along the south coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia between Albany and Hopetoun,[3] particularly in the Ravensthorpe Range,[2] where it grows in loamy alluvium soils over granite or laterite.

Conservation status

Eucalyptus megacornuta is listed as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999[9] but as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]

Use in horticulture

The species is sold commercially in seed for or as tube stock, it grows well in full or par sun and is drought tolerant once established. A fast growing plant it can be used as an ornamental or privacy screening. The tree produces abundant nectar when it flowers so it is prized by apiarists and is a good bird attractor. The dried seed pods are also used in flower arrangements.[2]

See also

References

  1. "Eucalyptus megacornuta". Australian Plant Census. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/99551. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Eucalyptus megacornuta". Australian Native Plants. http://www.australianplants.com/plants.aspx?id=1734. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Eucalyptus megacornuta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5710. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Eucalyptus megacornuta". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/eucalyptus_megacornuta.htm. 
  5. "Factsheet Eucalyptus megacornuta". Dried Botanical ID. http://idtools.org/id/dried_botanical/factsheet.php?name=Eucalyptus%20megacornuta. 
  6. "Eucalyptus megacornuta". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Eucalyptus+megacornuta. 
  7. "Eucalyptus megacornuta C.A.Gardner". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2911162#names. 
  8. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 250. ISBN 9780958034180. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Approved Conservation Advice for Eucalyptus burdettiana (Burdett Gum)". Department of Environment. 8 December 2008. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/13505-conservation-advice.pdf. 

Wikidata ☰ Q5405625 entry