Eucalyptus wandoo
| Eucalyptus wandoo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. wandoo |
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely | |
Eucalyptus wandoo (wandoo, white gum) is a medium-sized tree widely distributed in southwest Western Australia.
Description
It grows as a small to medium-sized tree up to 25 metres in height. It has smooth bark, often in mottled patches of white, light grey, light brown light yellow and pink. Old layers of bark come of in flakes, and it is not uncommon for a few flakes to persist on the trunk for a long time. Young stems may be round or square in cross-section.[1]
Adult leaves are usually a greyish-green or greyish-blue, the same on both sides, lanceolate, 7.5 to 12.5 centimetres long, 1 to 2.8 centimetres wide, on a petiole one to two centimetres long. Flowers are white, and occur in clusters of 9 to 17.[1]
This is a lignotuberous species.
Taxonomy
This taxon was first published as Eucalyptus redunca var. elata by George Bentham in 1867. In 1934 William Faris Blakely promoted it to species rank, and, since there was already a species named Eucalyptus elata, renamed it Eucalyptus wandoo. The specific epithet "wandoo" comes from the Noongar name for the tree.[2]
It is placed in genus Eucalyptus, subgenus Symphyomyrtus, section Bisectae, subsection Glandulosae, series Levispermae, subseries Cubiformes.[1]
Two subspecies are recognised:
- E. wandoo subsp. pulverea occurs only in the northern extreme of the species' distribution. Young branches of this subspecies have a waxy coating that is easily rubbed off; and the bark is powdery.
- E. wandoo subsp. wandoo is the autonymis subspecies, and the most common and widely distributed of the two. Branches are not coated, and the bark is not powdery.
Distribution and habitat
Endemic to the Southwest Botanical Province of Western Australia, E. wandoo occurs from Geraldton to the south coast, and from the west coast inland as far as Narembeen. It grows in loamy and stony soils, in undulating terrain.[3]
Uses
The wood of this species is extremely dense, and is used for a range of heavy duty construction purposes, including as railway sleepers and wood flooring. There was once an industry in the extraction of tannin from the bark and wood. These days the wood is not much available, as the wandoo forests are preserved for recreation and watershed protection.[4] Wandoo is also famous for the honey produced from its nectar.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus wandoo subsp. wandoo". EUCLID. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ↑ "Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ↑ "Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
- ↑ Boland, D. J.; et al. (1992). Forest trees of Australia (4th ed.). ISBN 0-643-05423-5.
- ↑ French, Malcolm. The special Eucalypts of Perth and the south-west. ISBN 0-646-29394-X.
6. Hussey, B.J.M. How to Manage Your Wandoo Woodlands - Dept of Conservation and Land Management Western Australia ISBN 0-7309-6897-9
External links
- "Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
- "Eucalyptus wandoo Blakely". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.