Eucalyptus oleosa

Eucalyptus oleosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eucalyptus
Species: E. oleosa
Binomial name
Eucalyptus oleosa
F.Muell. ex Miq.
Eucalyptus oleosa habit
Eucalyptus oleosa foliage
Eucalyptus oleosa growing at Jardín Botánico de Barcelona

Eucalyptus oleosa, commonly known as the red mallee, glossy-leaved red mallee, acorn mallee,[1] oil mallee[2] or giant mallee.[3] is a native tree of Australia The leaves were once harvested for the production of cineole based eucalyptus oil.[4] Eucalyptus cneorifolia is now the predominant strain used in production due to a higher oil content in new growth.

Description

The multi-stemmed tree or mallee typically grows to a height of 11 to 12 metres (36 to 39 ft) and has rough fibrous brown bark at the base that becomes smooth and grey above. It blooms between November and December producing yellow flowers.[3] The adult leaves are around 130 millimetres (5.1 in) in length and 19 mm (0.7 in) wide. They have a narrow-lanceolate to lanceolate shap and are glossy and green in colour. The flower are axillary found in groups of 7-11. Smooth buds form later with a length of approximately to 10 mm (0.4 in) and a width of 4.5 mm (0.18 in). The bud-cap is cone-shaped to cylinder-shaped. Fruits are round-shaped with a diameter of about 7 mm (0.28 in) with a descending disc and 3 or 4 valves exserted with attenuate tips. The seeds are dark brown with an ovoid shape and a length of 2 mm (0.08 in).[5][6]

Distribution

It is one of the most widespread mallee species in Australia.[7] In Western Australia it is found on hills, sand plains, flats and gravel pits in the southern Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions growing in sandy or loamy soils often over limestone.[3] The species range extends east into most of southern and central South Australia and then into northern and eastern Victoria[5][2] and south western New South Wales south of Coonbah and west of Koraleigh. It is often part of a codominant community of mallee shrubland on red aeolian sands.[6]

The species is associated with the western mallee subgroup and the chenopod mallee subgroup. The western mallee subgroup is characterised by several eucalypts including Eucalyptus eremophila, Eucalyptus moderata, Eucalyptus incrassata, Eucalyptus foecunda, Eucalyptus redunca and Eucalyptus uncinata. The understorey is predominantly shrubby with species of Melaleuca and Acacia along with the occasional Triodia. The chenopod mallee subgroup has E. oleosa along with other trees including Eucalyptus gracilis, Eucalyptus dumosa and Eucalyptus calycogona the understorey includes species of Maireana, Sclerolaena, Enchylaena, Chenopodium and Zygophyllum.[8]

Classification

The species was first formally described by the Dutch botanist Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in 1856 in the work Stirpes Novo-Hollandas a Ferd Mullero collectas determinavit. Nederlandsch Kruidkundig Archief.[9] Several different synonyms are known including Eucalyptus oleosa var. angustifolia Maiden, Eucalyptus laurifolia Blakely, Eucalyptus turbinata Behr & F.Muell. ex Miq. and Eucalyptus socialis var. laurifolia F.Muell. ex Maiden.[9]

The name oleosa comes from the latin word meaning full of oil, referring to the adult leaves containing plenty of essential oils.[5]

The species is similar to and formerly confused with E. socialis through misinterpretation of the type. Eucalyptus oleosa is readily distinguished in the field by the glossy green leaves.[2]

There are four known subspecies:

Uses

Aside from Eucalyptus oil production E.oleosa is also suitable to produce large amounts of biomass, able to make 10 to 20 metric tons (11 to 22 short tons) per hectare per year. In wheatbelt regions it is also beneficial as the tree will reduce salinity, give shade to stock, act as a windbreak and reduce erosion.[7]

The seeds are sold for cultivation as a garden plant. The seeds germinte easily and the plant is known to be very hardy as well as salt, drought and frost resistant. It can be used as a hedge plant, shade tree and for honey production.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dean Nicolle. "Native Eucalypts of South Australia". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus oleosa F.Muell. ex Miq. Oil Mallee". Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus oleosa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  4. ↑ Boland, D.J., Brophy, J.J., and A.P.N. House, Eucalyptus Leaf Oils, 1991, ISBN 0-909605-69-6
  5. 1 2 3 "Eucalyptus oleosa ssp. oleosa (Myrtaceae) Red Mallee". Seeds of South Australia. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Eucalyptus oleosa F.Muell. ex Miq.". PlantNet. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Mallee". Biomass Producer. Australian Government. 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Open mallee woodlands and sparse mallee woodlands" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Eucalyptus oleosa F.Muell. ex Miq.". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "Eucalyptus oleosa Giant mallee, Red mallee, Red morrell". Windmill Outback Nursery. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
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