Eucalyptus parramattensis

Eucalyptus parramattensis, commonly known as the Parramatta red gum or drooping red gum,[2] is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It has smooth, mottled bark, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical fruit.

Parramatta red gum
Eucalyptus parramattensis at Burrendong Arboretum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species:
E. parramattensis
Binomial name
Eucalyptus parramattensis
bark
flower buds

Description

Eucalyptus parramattensis is a tree that typically grows to a height of 15–18 m (49–59 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has smooth, mottled grey, brown and yellow bark. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull green to bluish leaves that are 50–120 mm (2.0–4.7 in) long and 5–30 mm (0.20–1.18 in) wide. Adult leaves are narrow lance-shaped to lance-shaped, the same shade of glossy green on both sides, 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) long and 12–25 mm (0.47–0.98 in) wide, tapering to a petiole 8–25 mm (0.31–0.98 in) long. The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on an unbranched peduncle 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long, the individual buds on pedicels 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. Mature buds are oval, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide with a conical operculum. Flowering occurs from November to December and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, hemispherical capsule 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide, with the valves protruding above the rim.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy

Eucalyptus parramattensis was first formally described in 1913 by Edwin Cuthbert Hall in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from material collected by Richard Thomas Baker.[6][7]

Two subspecies and one variety are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

  • Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens L.A.S.Johnson & Blaxell[8] is usually a poorly-formed tree with larger leaves, buds and fruit than subspecies parramattensis;[3]
  • Eucalyptus parramattensis E.C.Hall subsp. parramattensis[9] has a conical operculum;[3]
  • Eucalyptus parramattensis var. sphaerocalyx Blakely[10] has a rounded operculum.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Parramatta red gum grows in woodland, on flat and gently sloping country, often in wet sites on sandy soils. Subspecies parramattensis is found to the north-west of Sydney, subspecies decadens in the lower Hunter River and var. sphaerocalyx occurs from near Parramatta to the foothills of the Blue Mountains.[2][3][4]

References
  1. "Eucalyptus parramattensis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  2. Chippendale, George M. "Eucalyptus parramattensis". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. "Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. parramattensis". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  4. Hill, Ken. "Eucalyptus parramattensis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  5. Brooker, M. Ian H.; Kleinig, David A. (1994). Field Guide to Eucalypts. Melbourne: Inkata Press. p. 160. ISBN 0909605629.
  6. "Eucalyptus parramattensis". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  7. Hall, Edwin Cuthbert (1913). "The eucalypts of Parramatta, with descriptions of a new species". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 37: 568–571. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  8. "Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  9. "Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. parramattensis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  10. "Eucalyptus parramattensis var. sphaerocalyx". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
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