Eucalyptus kingsmillii is a mallee that is native to the arid central areas of Western Australia[1] and South Australia.[2]
| Kingsmill's mallee | |
|---|---|
| |
| Eucalyptus kingsmillii in the Collier Range National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Eucalyptus |
| Species: | E. kingsmillii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eucalyptus kingsmillii | |
Description
editThe mallee typically grows to a height of 1.5 to 8 metres (5 to 26 ft) that has rough fibrous bark on the trunk with smooth bark above. It produces white-cream to red-pink flowers between April and October.[1] The flower buds and fruits are large and ribbed or “winged” and are found in pendulous groups of three.[2] It has variable form ranging from a small compact shrub-like habit to a taller more irregular habit. The flowers are highly decorative usually with pink-red buds that open to cream-yellow flowers that are around 3 centimetres (1.2 in) across.[3] The dull, grey-green, thick and concolorous adult leaves have a disjunct arrangement. The leaf blade has a narrow lanceolate to broad lanceolate and is basally tapered. The buds are globose and rostrate, with a calyx calyptrate that sheds early. The fruits are hemispherical with a raised disc and exserted valves.[4][5]
The species is grown in gardens and is drought tolerant but can be susceptible to scale.[3]
Taxonomy
editThe species was first formally described by the botanist Joseph Maiden in 1929 as part of the work A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus.[6] The name of the species, kingsmillii, honours Walter Kingsmill, who was a Western Australian politician active in forestry matters. He collected the type specimen of the showy mallee in 1918 from an area north of Leonora[3] close to the Mount Keith minesite.[4]
Distribution
editIt is found on rocky rises and sand plains in inland areas of the Pilbara, Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia where it grows in thin sandy soils over sandstone or ironstone[1] with a range that extends to north western South Australia.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c "Eucalyptus kingsmillii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c Dean Nicolle (30 April 2010). "An illustrated guide to Australia's gum blossoms". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ a b c "Kingsmill's Mallee Eucalyptus kingsmillii" (PDF). Native Plant Notes. Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Eucalyptus kingsmillii". Eucalink. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Eucalyptus kingsmillii subsp. kingsmillii". Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Eucalyptus kingsmilli (Maiden) Maiden & Blakely (accepted name Eucalyptus kingsmillii)". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 21 November 2017.