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.
| 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 | |
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.