Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western , Series 4

Volume 2 Number 7 July, 1961 Article 11

1-1-1961

Trees of . 87. kruseana F. Muell. 88. Eucalyptus macrandra F. Muell. ex. Benth. 89. Mallalie. 90. The rose mallee ( Blakely and Steedman)

Charles Austin Gardner

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Recommended Citation Gardner, Charles Austin (1961) "Trees of Western Australia. 87. Eucalyptus kruseana F. Muell. 88. Eucalyptus macrandra F. Muell. ex. Benth. 89. Mallalie. 90. The rose mallee (Eucalyptus rhodantha Blakely and Steedman)," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 2 : No. 7 , Article 11. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol2/iss7/11

This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EUCALYPTUS KRUSEANA F. MUELL. A—Branchlet with leaves and flower-buds; B—Branchlet with leaves and fruits; C—Anthers; D—Fruit tn longi­ tudinal section (enlarged), eight miles north from Karonle (J. H. Frank); E and F—Twigs with leaves, flower- buds and fruits from near Lake Cowan (G. E. Brockway), a form with larger stalked leaves (E. brachyphylla C. A. Gardn.)

578

Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 TREES of UUedtern ^rudtralLa

By C. A. GARDNER

No. 87—EUCALYPTUS KRUSEANA spreading branches densely foliaged with F. MUELL. circular grey-green or grey stalkless leaves which more or less embrace the branch at their bases, or are almost npHIS very decorative shrub was described kidney-shaped. This type of leaf is not -•• by Baron von Mueller in the Australian common in Eucalyptus, and this feature Journal of Pharmacy in 1895 from speci­ together with their small size, renders the mens collected in the Fraser Range, which species at once distinctive. The bark of lies some distance eastwards from Norse­ the main stem is much like those of some man. It remained little known until it other species of Eucalyptus which inhabit was again collected by Henry Deane, con­ the stony outcrops of the arid interior, Eucalyptus cruris, E. orbifolia, E. Ewar- sulting engineer for the trans-Australian tiana E. Websteriana and a form of E. railway in May, 1909, from one area seen Drummondii. It is a peculiar bark in that between 50 and 150 miles eastwards from the outer layers, reddish-brown or cin­ Kalgoorlie. Deane's specimen was named namon coloured, separate from the pale Eucalyptus Morrisoni by Maiden, who was green inner bark in long strips with rolled apparently unaware of Mueller's earlier edges, thus exposing longitudinal rows of description. Since then it has been col­ the pale green inner bark. It is curious lected from eight miles north from Kar- that this type of bark should be charac­ onie, and from near Lake Cowan. The teristic of those species which inhabit species appears, therefore, to be found in granitic or lateritic outcrops. The flowers a few isolated spots eastwards from Kal­ are yellow in colour in umbels which goorlie and Norseman. exceed the leaves in length, and are quite attractive although not very large. With­ out any close affinities, this can at Eucalyptus Kruseana appears to have once be recognised by its small crowded no distinctive common name and would grey leaves and unusual habit of growth. be best called Kruse's Mallee, after its dis­ In recent years the species has attained coverer. The name "Bookleaf mallee" some popularity locally as a decorative which has a certain use is without shrub, growing well in the light sand of tangible meaning. the west coastal regions, but it is equally The plant is described as a shrub six to at home in the clay soils of the interior, 10 feet tall, but under cultivation it attains and is suitable for garden planting a height of 12 to 15 feet with usually a throughout the agricultural districts at single stem and more or less horizontally least as far south as Bruce Rock. 579 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 C.A GawWr One i»cK May i9e<

EUCALYPTUS MACRANDRA F. MUELL. EX BENTH. A—Branchlet with flower-buds and leaves; B—Flower-bud (enlarged); C—Anthers; D—Branchlet with fruits' E—Fruit (enlarged); F—The same In longitudinal section. Hamersley River, Gardner, January, 1935

580 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 No. 88 the umbel together with the narrow- rimmed fruit with included obtuse valves. EUCALYPTUS MACRANDRA The leaves are relatively large, rather F. MUELL. EX BENTH. thick and lustrous, and particular notice should be paid to the shape of the fruit, rpHIS species is of southern distribution, together with the nature of the valves ••- extending from the Stirling Range in and their position. A comparison should also be made with No. 81 (Eucalyptus the west and eastwards as far as the eremophila)—a mallee with olivaceous where it is found in sandy leaves, a different disc and valves, and loamy soils, usually in depressions or on non - glandular filaments. Eucalyptus the banks of streams. It is most common Stowardii (No. 80) has ribbed buds and along the and its tribu­ the fruits are sharp exserted valves. Although in its natural habitat it taries. favours the banks of streams and depres­ sions, it has proved hardy in cultivation Originally collected by George Maxwell in the drier districts. Mr. Edward Gardner in this general area of distribution it was raised the tree from seeds in the Tammin named by Mueller, but published by district, where it attained a height of 15 Bentham in 1867 in the Flora Austra- feet in less than five years, and it flowered liensis. The name is derived from two very freely. The filaments are yellow. The Greek words makros long, and ander plant should be of interest to the apicul- (andra), a man, in reference to the long turist, having many of the features of the stamens—the stamens being the male yate, but of more rapid growth and free organs of the flower. It thus received the flowering. It flowers from January to vernacular name of "Long-flowered mar- March. lock" from Blakely, but the name is in­ appropriate, firstly because the flowers are no longer than a number of other species, especially the Yate and its relatives (of which this is one) and because it is not No. 89—"MALLALIE" a marlock. The name marlock has been ( F. Muell^ proposed for those species of Eucalyptus which are shrubby but not mallees, i.e., npHE names "Desert Gum" or "Desert which do not possess woody stock-like -•- Mallee" sometimes given to this bases from which a number of stems arise, species are not applicable, for the species these being mallees. As a matter of fact there is rarely such a distinction in the does not occur in the arid interior. The shrubby species of Eucalyptus, and as name "Desert Gum" should be reserved previously remarked in this series, the for Eucalyptus gongylocarpa which is in­ mallee form of growth is frequently if not deed a tree of the desert. usually the result of circumstances affect­ ing the growth of the plant, amongst Eucalyptus eudesmioides is a mallee, or which fire is an important factor. The very rarely attains the proportions and bushman would call Eucalyptus mac- stature of a small tree. The first speci­ randra a Yate of some sort, and the name mens to be named were collected by A. River Yate would not be inappropriate. It Oldfield and P. Walcott on the sandplains does in fact belong to that group of species of the lower Murchison River and at which includes the Moitch, the Yates, the Mount Curious which lies immediately Mallets and the Moort—the Coruntae, in north of this river. The range of the which the stamens are erect (not in­ species as known at present extends from curved) in the horn-like bud-cap. about half way between Northampton and The principal characteristics of this Shark Bay in the north, to Walebing and species are the long narrow horn-like Piawaning in the south, whilst to the east bud caps, the stalked buds and fruits, the we find it as far inland as Perenjori and flattened common flower-stalk () Eradu, as a small bushy mallee with an and the numerous (up to 16) flowers in average stature of about six or eight feet 581 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 C.A. Ganhw 13 v («*

"MAIXALIE" (Eucalyptus eudesmioides F. Muell> A—Branchlet with leaves and flower-buds; B—Branchlet with leaves, flower-buds and fruits; C—Leaf; D—Flower- bud (enlarged); E—Flower (enlarged); F—Anthers, Mlngenew, Gardner 690; G—Fruits; H—Fruit (enlarged); I—The same In longitudinal section, Waleblng, Gardner; K—Fruit (enlarged); L—The same In section. Hill River, T. N. Stoate 22

582 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 with a pale pink, or yellowish-pink bark, No. 90—THE ROSE MALLEE the outer bark shedding in dark grey plates. The leaves are opposite, usually (Eucalptus rhodantha Blakely and glaucous and thin, and distinctly stalked, Steedmanj but in the northern extremity of its range we find mallees with deep green larger T^ORMERLY looked upon as a variety of and quite lustrous leaves. The flowers are •*• but dis­ always in umbels of three, on slender tinguished primarily by its stalked flowers, stalks collected on a common peduncle or common stalk. The is cam- this handsome species was named from panulate or bell-shaped, and is four- material collected near Gunyidi by H. toothed at the top, and the broad obtuse Steedman in December, 1934. I am in­ operculum is broader than the hypan­ cluding it as a species in this series, but thium. The filaments are white, and examinations made recently in the field arranged in four distinct groups or bundles with a claw-like base (see Fig. E), over a fairly wide area indicate that it is and the anthers are rather short and a variable plant, connecting on the one broad. The only other South Western hand with Eucalyptus macrocarpa, and on species with a similar staminal arrange­ the other with Eucalyptus Carnabyi (No. ment are Eucalyptus erythrocorys (No. 4 68 of this series) through the variety of this Series), E. tetragona the Tallerack petiolaris of E. rhodantha. (No. 71), and E. ebbanoensis. This group represents primitive forms of the species of Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus macrocarpa has practically stalkless solitary flowers and stalkless Eucalyptus' eudesmioides is the "Mal- leaves, but its bud-cap or operculum lalie" of the Murchison aborigines, accord­ undergoes considerable variation in the ing to Oldfield. Wherever possible Oldfield area of its distribution. Eucalyptus seems to have obtained the native names rhodantha has conspicuously stalked for native species and it is to be regretted flowers in general, but here and there on that other collectors did not do the same. many we find stalkless, or prac­ The mallee grows on poor sandy or tically stalkless flowers, which are typic­ sometimes lateritic soils, and restricted to ally solitary, but again, here and there the area outlined above. It flowers from we find two flowers on the very short January to March, and is a hardy species stalk. in cultivation. I would recommend it for planting in exposed situations near the The leaves vary from orbicular and western seaboard. stalkless, to broadly ovate and stalked, or ovate-lanceolate and stalkless or stalked. Although in the middle areas of its The fruits are generally smaller than one range it maintains a fairly constant finds in Eucalyptus macrocarpa, and character, in the north, as stated, it has exhibit a greater degree of variation in larger fruits and green leaves (probably the disc than is usual in the latter species. the typical form). The common form of I have illustrated only three types of the intermediate regions has thinner fruits—all from the Watheroo district usually pale foliage and smaller fruits where hundreds of specimens were re­ (e.g., Fig B). In the Hill River district we cently examined. Figures A to D show the find another form with fruits like those common form; E is a smaller fruit with found in the North but more angular, and much more prominent raised disc and thick, but perhaps more glaucous leaves. exserted valves reminding one of Eucalyp­ In case of any doubt one should examine tus Oldfieldii, while F shows a form with the arrangement of the stamens. drooping fruits of even smaller size and If the leaves are mainly opposite (not a very narrow disc. In addition, but not exactly a reliable characteristic since in figured are practically stemless fruits the northern and Hill River forms they are which as stated vary from one to two on sometimes alternate) and the fruit 4- the extremely short stalk. angled and longer than broad with the valves not protruding, the plant will be If one remembers that E. macrocarpa Eucalyptus eudesmioides. sometimes has a rather long conical oper- 583 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 one inch

THE ROSE MALLEE (Eucalyptus rodantha Blakely and Steedman.) A—Branchlet of the typical form with leaves, flower-buds and one flower; B—Anthers; C—Typical fruit; D— Section of same; E—Smaller fruit with much exserted valves; F—A form with smaller leaves and pendulous smaller fruits with narrow disc; G—Seeds Watheroo, Gardner 12780, February, 1961, except Fig. F, which was collected by A. J. Gray In the same area, 1900

584 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 7, 1961 culum, and compares the drawings of colours are to be seen, the commoner Eucalyptus rhodantha and Eucalyptus colour of the filaments is a deep red, and Carnabyi (Eucalyptus macrocarpa will be these smaller more richly coloured flowers dealt with in the next issue of this series) on stalks which enable them to pro­ it will be apparent that there is little trude beyond the foliage gives the plant difference between the three, bearing in a distinct advantage over Eucalyptus mind that the variety petiolaris of macrocarpa. E. rhodantha has stalked leaves. All three Eucalyptus rhodantha extends from the have red, or yellowish-white filaments. Hill River (where it is mixed with Notwithstanding this variation, I have E. macrocarpa) to Gunyidi, some miles for the present regarded E. rhodantha as eastwards from Watheroo and southwards something distinct, whether as a species to near New Norcia. Its range is thus or a variety, and it is a plant that is much more restricted than Eucalyptus almost unsurpassed for cultivation. macrocarpa, which extends from Minge- Typically it is a shrub four to eight feet new to Kulin. It is worthy of note that tall of greater diameter, but frequently we Eucalyptus Carnabyi occurs with Eucalyp­ see specimens over 18 feet in height. The tus macrocarpa at Barberton and leaves are usually shorter and smaller Piawaning, and a form intermediate than those of E. macrocarpa, and the plant between the two is found not far from does not appear to be affected by insect Bolgart. attacks as is so frequently the case with The species flowers almost throughout E. macrocarpa. Although two floral the year.

AAURESK AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE (Department of Agriculture) Parents are reminded that applications for 1963 admission to Muresk Agricultural College close on December 31 of this year. A preliminary selection of 1963 entrants is made after the Junior results are available early in 1962. The successful applicants then continue with Sub-Leaving, or higher studies, in 1962. Before the course can be commenced students must have attained:— (a) Sub-Leaving Standard in English, Maths. A, Chemistry and Physics (including Magnetism and Electricity if possible). (b) Junior Standard Bookkeeping. Should places still exist for 1963 commencement after the preliminary selection early in 1962, they are filled in order of application during 1962, by qualified appli­ cants. Duration of Course.—Two years. Fees.—Approximately £185 per annum covering full residential charges. Scholarships.—Department of Agriculture (3), the "Countryman," and J. J. Poynton Memorial (2). Boarding Allowance.—Most Muresk students are eligible for the Education Department Boarding Allowance (£50 per annum). Full details of the College are obtainable from the Principal, Muresk Agricultural College, Muresk, W.A., or the Department of Agriculture, .

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