Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. bellarinensis

Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. bellarinensis, commonly known as Bellarine yellow gum, is a subspecies of yellow gum that is endemic to the Bellarine Peninsula of southern Victoria, south-eastern Australia.[2]

Bellarine yellow gum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. leucoxylon
Subspecies:
E. l. subsp. bellarinensis
Trinomial name
Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. bellarinensis
Rule[1]

Description

The Bellarine yellow gum is a small tree, growing up to 12 m in height, with fibrous, grey bark at its base and a smooth upper trunk. It has waxy and opposite juvenile leaves, globular buds which are often prominently beaked, and large, round fruits on stalks that are longer than the fruits.[2] It produces cream-coloured flowers in April and May that provide an important source of nectar for wildlife when little else is flowering.[3] It grows on heavy clay soils that are waterlogged in winter and subject to salt-laden coastal winds.[2]

Status and conservation

Land clearing since European settlement has made this subspecies endangered in Victoria, and it is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[2] Once widespread on the peninsula, it now mainly occurs as isolated, scattered trees.[3]

References
  1. Rule, K. (1998). "A new, rare Victorian subspecies of Eucalyptus leucoxylon F. Muell". Muelleria. 11: 133–136.
  2. "Eucalyptus leucoxylon Yellow Gum" (PDF). Corangamite Region Guidelines. Corangamite Seed Supply and Revegetation Network. 2005. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  3. Longmore, Sue; Smithyman, Steve; Crawley, Matt (2010). Inland Plants of the Bellarine Peninsula. Bellarine Catchment Network.


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