Eucalyptus incrassata

Location & distribution maps

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:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_incrassata (2024)