Trees of Western Australia. 101. the Salt River Mallett (Eucalyptus Sargentii Maiden)
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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 4 Number 6 June, 1963 Article 6 1-1-1963 Trees of Western Australia. 101. The Salt River Mallett (Eucalyptus sargentii Maiden). 102. The Two-Winged Gimley (Eucalyptus diptera C.). 103. Eucalyptus Burdettiana Blakely et Steedman. 104. The Moort (Eucalyptus platypus Hook) Charles Austin Gardner Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Forest Biology Commons, and the Genetics Commons Recommended Citation Gardner, Charles Austin (1963) "Trees of Western Australia. 101. The Salt River Mallett (Eucalyptus sargentii Maiden). 102. The Two-Winged Gimley (Eucalyptus diptera C.). 103. Eucalyptus Burdettiana Blakely et Steedman. 104. The Moort (Eucalyptus platypus Hook)," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 4 : No. 6 , Article 6. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol4/iss6/6 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]. SALT RIVER MALLET {Eucalyptus Sargentii Maiden.) EXPLANATION OF PLATE A Branchlet with buds and Irults. B—Branchlet with somewhat Immature Irults. O—Flower-bud (enlarged). E—Fruit In longitudinal section. Wyola, Gardner 14388. Jan. 1963. 362 Journal of Agruculture Vol 4 No 6, 1963 TREES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA By C. A. GARDNER 101.—THE SALT RIVER MALLET (Eucalyptus Sargentii Maiden.) ITH the ever-increasing spread of salt in certain poorly-drained soils in Western W Australia, any plant which tends to restrict salt encroachment is of considerable economic importance. In the genus Eucalyptus there are a few early days of settlement of the eastern trees which will withstand a certain degree districts was used for tanning hides. of soil salinity, the principal one being The heartwood is tough and dense, Eucalyptus kondininensis, first described straight-grained, and dark brown in colour. from Kondinin where it was called The salt river mallet is sometimes as (locally) the "stocking-tree" because of the sociated with a mallee form of Eucalyptus black rough bark of the trunk which spathulata, which is also to some extent terminates upwards somewhat abruptly, salt-tolerant. and is succeeded by a thin smooth bark. Although it is salt-tolerant to a marked This particular tree is much more common degree, often growing under conditions in further south, inhabiting the shores of which the other vegetation dies from the salt-pans, particularly at Pingrup, excessive salt in the soil, the salt river Lake Grace and other salt-pan country in mallet also dies but is the last tree or the district. This tree may be found grow shrub to do so. For example, formerly ing fairly close to the white surface salt, common at Hine's Hill, much of the salt and is undoubtedly valuable in salt areas river mallet has died, and there are prob under dry conditions. ably two factors involved: too much salt, Another tree is the one to which this and insolation through lack of soil pro article is devoted (Eucalyptus Sargentii), tection. originally named from Lake Mears between The salt river mallet is being increas-* Dangin and Kweda, on the salt river near ingly grown in many inland places in soils where it enters the Avon. From there it which are becoming saline. It is both can be traced in certain spots as far as hardy and rapid-growing as far inland as Hines Hill, while it is also not uncommon Wannarra Station, east of Perenjori, and on the east branch of the Mortlock River it may be found in cultivation in many between Cunderdin and Wyola. parts of the eastern wheatbelt. The salt river mallet is closely related to Young plants are obtainable from the the brown mallet {Eucalyptus astringens), Forests Department's nurseries at Hamel but is a smaller, more widely branched tree and Dryandra. averaging about 20 feet in height, with a Planting should be undertaken not later rough flaky bark on the lower part of the than the end of June. The young trees trunk. This bark is a dark grey or almost should be planted some distance from any black and is succeeded upwards by a visible suoerficial evidence of salt on the greenish-brown thin smooth bark. The surface, their function—at least at first— bark is fairly rich in tannin, and in the being to restrict the spread of salt. 363 Journal of Agruculture Vol 4 No 6, 1963 C A.Gardner 1*55 THE TWO-WINGED GIMLET (Eucalyptus diptera C. Andrews.) EXPLANATION OF PLATE A—Branchlet with leaves and flower-buds. B—Flower-bud. C—Branchlet with fruits. D—Fruit. E—Fruit (enlarged). F—Fruit In longitudinal section. Salmon Oums. Gardner 14297, Sept. 1962. 364 Journal of Agruculture Vol 4 No 6, 1963 Description when in the unopened bud. The stamens A small tree, rarely exceeding 25 feet in are all perfect with narrow anthers open height, with a rather stout trunk, the ing longitudinally. The fruit is cylindrical- greater part of this relatively short trunk cupular, tapering into the stalk, less than covered by a thick persistent dark grey half an inch in length, smooth, the disc flaky bark, often thick and ragged; the narrow and the valves slender and needle bark of the upper parts thin and smooth like. It flowers in the spring. and greenish-brown. The branchlets are The salt river mallet is most closely slender, often drooping, reddish. Timber related to the brown mallet (Eucalyptus pale brown, straight-grained, hard and astringens), differing in the smaller nar tough. Leaves alternate, spreading or rower fruits and the very slender needle- drooping, narrow, lustrous on both surfaces, shaped valves of the fruit. The tree is of with copious oil-cavities. quite different habit, with widely-spread Flowers in axillary or lateral three to ing branches, and the thick platy dark- seven flowered umbels on rather long coloured bark of the relatively shorter and slender recurved common stalks, the in stouter trunk is quite different from that dividual flower-stalks slender, and about of the brown mallet. as long as the fruits. The hypanthium The name commemorates Oswald H. (calyx-tube) is somewhat obconical or al Sargent, formerly a pharmacist of York, most cylindrical, smooth, and about half who collected specimens in the York and as long as the bud-cap (operculum). The Bruce Rock districts, and was the author filaments are yellowish-white and erect of a number of species. No. 102.—THE TWO-WINGED GIMLET (Eucalyptus diptera C. Andrews.) HE two-winged gimlet has the habit, colour and form of the common gimlet tree, T even to the character of the fluted bark and often twisted trunk. However, it is much smaller, rarely exceeding 18 or 20 feet in height, and it never attains the girth of the gimlet. Its relationship to the gimlet tree is The original material was collected and obscure and it remains a very distinctive named in 1903 by Mr. C. Andrews, who tree because of its flowers and fruit. These found a tree in flower north of Esperance. are without stalks; the flowers—solitary, It was without opercula, was not in fruit, in pairs or in threes—are closely attached and the species, as well as the locality in to the branch or branchlet, usually some which it was found remained unknown distance below the leafy twigs. The two- until in May 1924, the writer rediscovered winged character of the flowers—which the tree near Salmon Gums, growing in gives the species its name—is quite un clay. matched within the genus. Also, there are Its range extends from the Circle Valley not many species which are devoid of the to near Norseman, but it does not appear common (peduncle) or individual (pedicel) to be widespread in its range. It is stated flower stalks. The filaments of the flowers by Blakely that it likes subsaline condi tions, but I have not seen the trees except are greenish-yellow. in the clay soil of the woodlands, under The branches are erect, the bark is a conditions where salt is not evident in the brownish-green in colour, quite smooth, soil. It flowers in May. Trees more than and the hard straight-grained timber is 20 feet high are rare, and it is occasionally a light brown and very tough. The leaves found in thicket formation. The size of are lustrous on both surfaces, well pro the flowers and fruits is variable; speci vided with oil cavities and typically mens with fruits over three quarters of an broader than those of the gimlet tree. inch in diameter are not uncommon. 365 Journal of Agruculture Vol 4 No 6, 1963 SECURE YOUR DOUBLE-LOCK FENCING FROM the master-piece in oils • DEUSOL OR llUMOtiHU n for Diesel Engines * FOR your CASTROL for Petrol Engines NEW Complete . * DOUBLE-LOCK AGRICASTROL FENCING SERVICE for Kerosene Engines Get in touch with Available from DALGETY-N.Z.L. CASTROL DISTRIBUTORS Throughout the State DOUBLE-LOCK DISTRIBUTORS Please mention the "Journal of Agriculture of W.A.," whin writing to advertisers Journal of Agruculture Vol 4 No 6, 1963 and the answer to your fencing problems MWffig^: kmPZi. NOW MADE IN W.A. DOUBLE-LOCK Tried and proven Double-Lock feneing has been recognised and used extensively throughout the U.S.A. for many years. 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