Eucalyptus obconica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Myrtales

Familia: Myrtaceae
Subfamilia: Myrtoideae
Tribus: Eucalypteae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species: Eucalyptus obconica
Name

Eucalyptus obconica Brooker & Kleinig

Eucalyptus obconica is a species of small tree or a mallee the is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It has rough fibrous or flaky, wavy bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved or oblong adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers and conical fruit.

Description

Eucalyptus obconica is a tree or mallee that typically grows to a height of 2.5–10 m (8 ft 2 in – 32 ft 10 in) high. It has rough, fibrous or flaky, wavy or tessellated bark on the trunk and branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull, light green, broadly lance-shaped leaves that are up to 130 mm (5.1 in) long, 35 mm (1.4 in) wide and petiolate. Adult leaves are the same shade of dull green to bluish on both sides, lance-shaped to curved or oblong, 60–155 mm (2.4–6.1 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) wide on a petiole 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long. The flower buds are mostly arranged on the end of branchlets on a branched peduncle in groups of seven, the peduncle 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long, the individual buds sessile or almost so. Mature buds are oval, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide with a rounded to conical operculum. Flowering occurs between March and May and the flowers are white. The fruit is a woody, conical capsule 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) wide with the valves near rim level.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming

Eucalyptus obconica was first formally described in 1994 by Ian Brooker and David Kleinig in their book, Field guide to eucalypts.[4][5] The specific epithet (obconicus) is Latin, meaning obconical, referring to the shape of the fruit.[4]
Distribution and habitat

This species is found on rocky hill sides in scattered locations in the central and eastern Kimberley region, where it grows in skeletal soils over sandstone or quartzite, often forming pure stands on rocky plateaus.[2][4]
Conservation status

This eucalypt is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]
See also

List of Eucalyptus species

References

"Eucalyptus obconica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
"Eucalyptus obconica". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
"Eucalyptus obconica". Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
Brooker, Ian; Kleinig, David (1994). Field guide to eucalypts (1 ed.). Inkata Press. pp. 300, 372. ISBN 0909605300.
"Eucalyptus obconica". APNI. Retrieved 18 November 2019.