THE COARSE-LEAVED MALLEE (Eucalyptus grossa F. Muell. ez Benth.) A—Flower-buds; B—Section of flower-bud; C—Anthers: D—Fruits; E—Section of fruit (Near Salmon Oums, Gardner 2228)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 No. 71—COARSE-LEAVED MALLEE No. 72—DESMOND MALLEE (Eucalyptus grossa F. Muell. ex Benth.) (Eucalyptus desmondensis Maiden & Blakely). HIS mallee is unmistakable by reason T of its peculiar habit and thick rough- HE Desmond mallee has a somewhat barked stem and branches, both of which T restricted range in the Ravensthorpe have longitudinally-fissured persistent district, but is by no means confined to bark right up to the distinctly reddish Mount Desmond, where the writer collect­ branchlets. The leaves are broad and ed the first specimens in May, 1924. Rather thick, a bright shining green in colour, is it distributed over a fairly large area of with the mid-ribs usually a purplish-red. the Ravensthorpe Range, and some dis­ The heads of flowers are on thick red tance to the east of this. It is one of our round-in-section foot-stalks which hang more attractive mallees, a shrub up to 10 almost vertically, and the reddish bud-cap or 15 ft. in height, with slender stems up conceals the ultimately free, bright yellow to four inches in diameter, the bark rough filaments. The widely-spreading thick and flaky at the base, but the stems soon branches, and in general the rough stout smooth and almost white with a powdery appearance of the shrub inspired the name bark. "grossa" from the Latin grossus meaning thick. The branches are flexuose and often Originally described from specimens drooping, giving the almost the gen­ collected by Maxwell in the vicinity of the eral appearance of Eucalyptus sepulcralis. , the main centre of distribu­ The leaves are comparatively broad, blue- tion lies to the east, along the upper grey in colour and rather thick without reaches of the Young and Lort Rivers, and any evident veins, but these can be seen northward to Salmon Gums, where it occurs under a lens. The flowers are individually sporadically in thickets of tea-tree on almost without stalks, and borne on broad yellow clay or loamy soils. The plant stalks under the umbel, and the buds are seldom exceeds six or eight feet in height. a chestnut-brown in colour. The opercu­ It is not infrequently associated with such lum is somewhat variable in shape, vary­ soils in proximity to granite rocks. ing from narrow and acute to somewhat This remarkable species has no close broad and almost blunt. Both forms are relationship with other species of Euca­ depicted on the accompanying plate. The lyptus, nor has the plant any known fruits are on very short stalks, and some­ economic value, apart from the part it what bell-shaped; the valves never pro­ could play in horticulture. Being hardy, it jecting beyond the rim of the fruit. The would thrive in most localities in the filaments are pale yellow when fresh, but South-West, and could be a distinct orna­ dry to a yellowish-brown colour. ment in any garden or shubbery. It would On Mount Desmond the shrub grows in however require space for its ultimate stony soil on the lower slopes of the hill, development, since although not of any but in some places it may be found in clay. appreciable stature, it can occupy a lateral It flowers in the winter and spring, from diameter of up to ten feet. May to November. 643

Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 THE DESMOND MALLEE {Eucalyptus desmondensis Maiden Sc Blakely) A—Branchlet with buds and flowers; B—Flower-buds; C—Anthers; D—Fruits; E—Single fruit (enlarged): F—Section of same. Mount Desmond, Gardner May 1924 (Typa); G—Flower-buds; H—The same enlarged. Ravensthorpe district (Gardner 2935, November 1931)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 Eucalyptus falcata Turcz. A—Fruits; B—Flower buds. Mundarlng catchment area, D. H. Perry (this Is the typical form); C—Flower-buds: I>—Fruits; E—Section of flower-bud: F—Section of fruit; I—Anther, Hatter's Hill, Gardner; G—Flower-buds; H—Flowers, 35 miles westwards from Esperance. G. H. Burvtll.

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 This species is singularly attractive, and could be trained to grow for street-plant­ No. 74—JERDACATTUP MALLEE ing purposes. {Eucalyptus goniantha Turcz.) HIS species of Eucalyptus appears to T have been much neglected, and re­ mains imperfectly known. It was, unfor­ \o. 73 —Eucalyptus falcata Turcz tunately, described without fruits, but we possess fragments of the leaves and flower buds of the original specimens collected by HIS species occurs as a mallee, or as a Drummond in his Third Collection (No. T tree: when the latter it has a smooth 71). This mallee, or something very closely pale bark, and is known as "White Mallet" resembling it, was collected by Maxwell in the Narrogin and Wagin districts; as a from the Franklin River in fruit only. It mallee it has an extensive area of distri­ was also collected by Collie and Baxter bution, extending from the from the east of King George's Sound. in the Mundaring Catchment Area, south­ ward to the south coast between the Stirl­ ing Range and Esperance. In both tree It is unfortunate that material from so and mallee forms we find a smooth or many sources, all of it incomplete, became longitudinally-furrowed fruit, but this described under the one name, but I believe character is unimportant, since consider­ that even so, all of the earlier collections, able variation occurs between the two. or at least those of Drummond and Max­ well, and one other, are referable to the one species. The first specimens were collected by We do not know where the Franklin Drummond, probably in the districts to the River is, but it seems certain that it was east of the middle parts of the Great somewhere between the and Southern district. In this area the species Cape Arid, and it is between the Jerdacat­ maintains a distinctive form, with slender tup River and the Dalyup River that we stalks, long and acutely-pointed buds, a find a robust mallee with rather thick, usually faintly ribbed fruit, and green, dark green, rather finely-veined leaves, shining, narrow leaves. In the south— somewhat massive buds with pale-coloured especially in the regions of the south coast almost conical streaked or ribbed caps, and eastward from the Pallinup River—it a deeply ribbed fruit. undergoes some changes, the buds and It occurs on stony clay soil, often on fruits being entirely smooth in some cases, the sides of hills and on breakways. The and the bud-cap sometimes short and original specimens of Drummond's which broad. These latter forms are sometimes I have seen are more longitudinally- easily mistaken for "Redheart" q.v., but wrinkled in the bud than those which have always there is a definite stalk to the buds been subsequently collected, but this may and fruits. It is not until we reach the be the result of immaturity, as can be longitude of the Phillips and Jerdacattup demonstrated in other species. The bud- Rivers that we find much alteration to cap varies from smooth to longitudinally- these organs, but at Hatter's Hill a robust ribbed. Along the south coastal areas the form is found, which is shown in Figs. C, species is a thick-leaved mallee and the D, E and F. This form shows a tendency buds are in clusters of four to eight, with towards Eucalyptus goniantha, but always the fruits more or less pear-shaped. there is a more or less slender stalk to the To the north of Esperance we find a buds and fruits, sometimes thickened up­ mallee of more spreading habit rarely wards. Farther east, in the sand near the exceeding four to five feet in height, in coast, the buds become smaller on shorter, which the flowers appear to be constantly thicker stalks, and it is here that the in groups of three, and the fruit is more species most closely approaches Eucalyptus coarsely ribbed. Still farther north—in decipiens. heavier soil—it becomes larger, and near The bark of the tree form is not high in Circle Valley a tree form occurs up to 45 tannin, and is sometimes added to brown ft. in height with a rough persistent bark. mallet bark as an adulterant. Farther north, in clay soil we find it as 646

Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 THE JERDACATTL'P MALLEE {Eucalyptus geniantha Turcz.) A—Flowers and buds; B—Anthers, Dnimmond (type collection); C—Buds and fruits; D—Anthers; E—Section of fruit. Jerdacattup River (Gardner December 1940)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 "REDHEART" i Eucalyptus decipicns Endl.) A—Branchlet with flowers and buds: B—Flower buds enlarged); C—Anthers; D—Flower bud in section; E— Branchlet with fruits; F—Cluster of fruits (enlarged); G—Fruit In section; H—Seeds (Tolls Pass, Stirling Range, Gardner 1931)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 far as Salmon Gums as a rather tall mallee are found to open in parallel slits as illus­ in yellow, loamy stony soil. This has been trated in the accompanying plate. Con­ described as Eucalyptus Kessellii, but from siderable importance has been given to the an examination of the whole range of shape of anthers and their dehiscence (i.e., forms it must be regarded as merely a form their method of opening), but detailed of Eucalyptus goniantha. We have here an examination has shown that too much excellent example of variation according reliance cannot be placed on this charac­ to soil and climatic conditions. ter: for example, when the plate of Eucalyptus sepulcralis was prepared, at least four anthers had to be examined before one was found in which the slits were joined at the apex, and similarly in Eucalyptus desmondensis we found a No. 75— "REDREART" similar state of affairs. The anthers of (Eucalyptus decipiens Endl.) Eucalyptus decipiens are not unlike those of a number of tropical species which have HIS tree attains a height of about 45 been described as opening in pores, but T ft. in limestone soils, but in sandy de­ the important thing is that the filament pressions it is a much smaller tree, and is attached above the base of the anther, sometimes has a mallee form. The better whereas those Western Australian species specimens are found in the limestone tract which have anthers opening in what might which extends from near the coast at the be called small pores, open nearly at the southward to the vicinity of top, and the filament broadens at the apex Rockingham, where it is a tree with a into the anther. rough light grey bark which could easily be mistaken for a tuart tree, but it is of more spreading habit and somewhat un­ tidy. Unlike tuart the timber is red, and the trunk attains a diameter of over two \o. 76 —Eucalyptus corrugata feet in well grown specimens. Luehmann

The other area of distribution is found HIS species varies from a fairly large under totally different conditions in the T mallee to a tree of about 35 or 40 south, where from Katanning to Denmark, ft. in height, with either a quite smooth and again towards the Stirling Range, the bark the outer layers of which shed in tree is found growing in poor sand subject long plate-like pieces, or the lower part of to very wet conditions in winter. These the trunk is covered with these persistent trees rarely exceed 20 or 25 ft. in height, outer layers of bark which give it a rough and have usually gnarled or twisted trunks dark "blackbutt" appearance. and widely-spreading, untidy branches. It is not a handsome tree. The bark too is The bark, although appearing smooth, darker in the trees from the limestone is slightly rough to the touch. It is a farther north, but the timber is of the yellowish-brown in colour when the outer same deep red colour. It is, in this latter bark has newly shed, but later becomes a habitat, a tree of the sandy depressions. creamy white. The timber is a pale brown The mallee forms are found around the and hard, and straight-grained, and the Stirling Range and the low-level plains leaves are a bright shining green. The to the east. This mallee form is at times flowers are borne in umbels of from three difficult to distinguish from Eucalyptus to seven on short pedicels; the common falcata, but always the buds and fruits are stalk or of the umbel is about to all purposes stalkless, whereas those of half an inch long. The buds and fruits Eucalyptus falcata are distinctly stalked. are prominently ribbed, and the bud-cap The anthers of Eucalyptus decipiens ex­ or operculum is normally broad and blunt, hibit some diversity in size and form. They being almost hemispherical, and is even have been described as opening in pores, more prominently ribbed than the calyx. and this is sometimes true of the immature Eucalyptus corrugata grows on stony soil, anthers, but in the fully mature state they usually on rising ground, and its range 649

Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 Eucalyptus corrugata Luehmann. A—Branchlet with buds, flowers and fruits: B—Anthers; C—Fruits; D—Section of fruit: E—Cotyledons (Westonla, Gardner 1095)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 GOLDFIELDS BLACKBUTT iEucalyptus Le Souefii Maiden) A—Branchlet with buds; B—Anther: C—Branchlet with leaf and fruits; D—Fruits; E—Fruit In section; F—Cotyledons i Hipginsvtlle. Gardner 95351

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 extends from Westonia to near Coolgardie and some distance southward. The typical No. 78-STRICKLMD'S GUM, OR form has the obtuse, almost hemispherical, GOLDFIELDS YELLOW-FLOWERED prominently ribbed or almost winged bud- cap, and the leaves are a shining green. GEM It is never a large tree. Specimens from ( Maiden). Goddard's Creek near Zanthus show all of the characteristics of this species except EW trees are more attractive than this that the bud-cap is beaked, and this latter F species of Eucalyptus which grows on character is usually reserved for Eucalyptus the stony hills between Coolgardie and Le Souefli, the common blackbutt of the Norseman, and eastward to the Fraser Eastern Goldfields. Range. Its heavy pale green foliage, attractive cinnamon-coloured bark above the rough black base, and its masses of large lemon-yellow flowers make it an outstanding tree. Although its natural \o. 77—GOLDFIELDS BLAdBETT habitat is confined to stony, usually schis­ (Eucalyptus Le Souefli Maiden). tose hills in the Eastern Goldfields, it is equally at home in the poor white sand HIS tree, common in the Kalgoorlie- of the coastal regions, or in the sandy or T Norseman district, is found mainly on clay soils of the wheat districts. the alluvial flats, and attains a height of 45 ft. when well grown. The bark is flaky Its specific name commemorates a and persistent in the lower part of the former Governor of Western , Sir trunk, from one or two to six or eight feet Gerald, later Lord, Strickland, who was above the ground level. Above this it is subsequently Governor of New South smooth and light silvery-brown in colour. Wales, and of Malta. The tree is not a tall species. Rarely The branchlets are reddish and the does one see it more than 20 or 25 ft. tall, leaves a dull greyish-green in the com­ but it has a short massive trunk up to mon form, although forms with shining two or three feet in diameter, and widely- leaves have been observed. The dull, nar­ spreading branches. The bark of the trunk, row leaves, the more pointed bud-caps, and or at least the lower part of the trunk, is usually the more pronounced blackbutt at covered with a persistent, dark grey or the base of the trunk are the principal almost black curly-flaky bark which ter­ features which separate this tree from minates abruptly and is succeeded by a Eucalyptus corrugata, but none of these smooth reddish-grey or cinnamon-coloured characters is constant. bark. The ultimate branches and branch- Specimens from Goddard's Creek near lets and the flower-buds are covered with Zanthus, have all of the characteristics of a white powder. The whole tree, in fact of E. corrugata, but the buds have the has a singularly lucid appearance. It beaked bud-cap which is a characteristic flowers in late November and December. of E. Le Souefli. Still another form from The accompanying plate illustrates this the Norseman district has lustrous leaves species, which is quite distinctive, with no and remarkably long, pointed bud-caps. close relationships within the genus except Perhaps all three should be grouped as a Eucalyptus Carnei which grows in the single species. Sandstone district. Points which should The range of the typical form of be observed in Eucalpytus Stricklandii are Eucalyptus Le Souefli extends from Kal- the stout, flattened, common flower-stalks, goorlie to Norseman, and westward to the stalkless individual flowers, the shape Coolgardie. As previously stated, it grows of the fruit and the cylindrical-ovate on low-lying flats and shows a certain operculum which is yellow when the bud tolerance to salt. is ready to burst. 652

Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960 STRICKLAND'S GUM. OR GOLDFIELDS YELLOW-FLOWERED GUM {Eucalyptus Stricklandii Maiden) A—Branchlet with flower-buds; B—Flower-bud In section: C—Anthers; O—Branchlet with fruits; E—Section of fruit; F—Cotyledons iWldglemooltha, Gardner 1050)

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Journal of Agriculture Vol 1 No 7 1960