| Mallee Box | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. porosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus porosa |
|
Eucalyptus porosa, known by the common name of Mallee Box, is a species of eucalypt or gum tree, native to southern Australia.
Depending on location, E. porosa can develop into a multi-trunked mallee, or it may develop into a thick, straight, single-trunked tree over 10 metres tall.[1]
E. porosa is an evergreen tree, with leaves typical of most eucalypts. A distinctive characteristic is the broad space between the leaf edge and the marginal vein. New leaves are bright and glossy, with a distinctive lettuce green colour.
White to pale yellow eucalypt flowers appear in late spring and early summer. These make it an important food plant for possums and local birds. These flowers are transformed into small woody urn shaped gumnuts, around 5mm across, clustered together. Plants grow easily from seed and develop quickly under the right conditions. Prefers alkaline, heavy clay loam soils.[2]