Eucalyptus decolor
| Eucalyptus decolor | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. decolor
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus decolor | |
Eucalyptus decolor is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Queensland. It has rough, hard, fissured "ironbark", lance-shaped to curved adult leaves that are distinctly paler on the lower surface, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and hemispherical to cup-shaped fruit.
Description[edit]
Eucalyptus decolor is a tree that typically grows to a height of 25 m (82 ft) and forms a lignotuber. It has hard, dark grey fissured "ironbak" on the trunk and larger branches, white to pinkish bark on the thinner branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have narrow lance-shaped leaves 95–135 mm (3.7–5.3 in) long and 7–16 mm (0.28–0.63 in) wide. Adult leaves are lance-shaped to curved, distinctly paler on the lower surface, 65–130 mm (2.6–5.1 in) long and 8–22 mm (0.31–0.87 in) wide on a petiole 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. The flower buds are arranged on a branching inflorescence with the buds in groups of seven on each branch. The groups are on a peduncle 6–15 mm (0.24–0.59 in) long, the individual buds on a pedicel 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. Mature buds are spindle-shaped to diamond-shaped, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide with a conical operculum. Flowering occurs from December to March and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody hemispherical to cup-shaped capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide on a pedicel 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
Eucalyptus decolor was first formally described in 1989 by Anthony Bean and Ian Brooker from a specimen that Bean collected on Mount Castletower near Port Curtis. The description was published in the journal Austrobaileya.[5] The specific epithet (decolor) is a Latin word meaning "discolored" or "faded",[6] referring to the pale underside of the leaves.[2]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
This eucalypt is only known from a few small populations, mostly in hilly and mountainous country in south-east Queensland.
Conservation status[edit]
Eucalyptus decolor is classed as "near threatened" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. The main threats to the species are land clearing and inappropriate fire regimes.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Eucalyptus decolor". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ a b Bean, Anthony R.; Brooker, M. Ian H. (1989). "Two new species of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) from central Queensland". Austrobaileya. 3 (1): 41–44.
- ^ "Eucalyptus decolor". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Eucalyptus decolor". WetlandInfo. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ "Eucalyptus decolor". APNI. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 381.