Eucalyptus incrassata
Lerp Mallee
Lerp Mallee
Wikipedia links: Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids > Myrtaceae > Eucalyptus incrassata
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Overview:
Eucalyptus incrassata, commonly known as the lerp mallee, yellow mallee, ridge fruited mallee or rib fruited mallee, is a species of mallee that is endemic to southern Australia
It has smooth bark, sometimes with rough, ribbony bark near the base, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, creamy white, pale yellow, sometimes pink or red flowers, and cylindrical, barrel-shaped or bell-shaped fruit
Common name: Lerp Mallee
Conservation status: ...
Etymology:
The name Eucalyptus is derived from the Ancient Greek words eu meaning 'good'and kalypto meaning ' cover, conceal, hide', referring to the operculum covering the flower buds
The specific epithet (incrassata) means "made thick" or "flattened", referring to the leaves
Flowers:
The flower buds are arranged in leaf axils in groups of seven on an unbranched peduncle 10–28 mm long, the individual buds on pedicels 1–8 mm long
Mature buds are oblong to pear-shaped, 11–23 mm long and 5–11 mm wide with a conical operculum
It blooms between August and April producing cream-white-yellow blossoms
Fruit:
The fruit is a woody, cylindrical to barrel-shaped or bell-shaped capsule 11–23 mm long and 5–11 mm wide with the valves below rim level
Leaves:
Young plants and coppice regrowth have dull bluish green, elliptic to egg-shaped leaves that are 40–100 mm long and 20–50 mm wide
The adult leaves are arranged alternately, the same glossy green on both sides, lance-shaped, 50–150 mm long and 10–30 mm wide on a petiole 8–25 mm long
Stem & branches:
The bark is smooth pink to grey or brownish, sometimes with rough grey to brown ribbons near the base
Roots:
Habit:
A single stemmed or multi-stemmed mallee that typically grows to a height of 2 to 5 m but can reach as high as 10 m
It will usually grow to a width of 4 to 7 m and it forms a lignotuber
Habitat:
Grows in sandy soils
Often found along sandplains and hillsides
It is associated with the western mallee subgroup which is characterised by several eucalypts including E. oleosa, E. moderata, E. eremophila, E. foecunda, E. redunca and E. uncinata
The understorey is predominantly shrubby with species of Melaleuca and Acacia along with the occasional Triodia
Distribution:
This is one of the most widespread mallee species in Australia
From the Mid West, through the Wheatbelt and along the south coast in the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia
It is also found in the south of South Australia extending into Victoria and NSW
Additional notes:
Taxonomy
Eucalyptus incrassata was first formally described by the botanist Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in his two-volume treatise, Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen
Ecology
This eucalypt attracts nectar-eating birds and insects that use it for food and habitat
Use in horticulture
E. incrassata is used as a shade tree, mass planting will offer good screening, good for erosion control or as a windbreak
It is suitable mediterranean and bush style gardens and responds well to coppicing
It is tolerant of both drought and light frost. Able to grow in ordinary soil or enriched soil that is either acidic to alkaline and prefers a position in the full sun
Seeds will germinate in 2 to 6 weeks and it can be grown from cuttings
The tree is susceptible to powdery mildew in the wetter months of winter, it can also be affected by myrtle rust and by dieback
It is also suitable to produce large amounts of biomass, able to make 10 to 20 metric tons (11 to 22 short tons) per hectare per year
In wheatbelt regions it is also beneficial as the tree will reduce salinity, give shade to stock, act as a windbreak and reduce erosion
Sources of information: