Eucalyptus populnea

Eucalyptus populnea
File:Eucalyptus populnea leaf.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Eucalyptus
Species:	E. populnea
Binomial name
Eucalyptus populnea F. Muell.

Eucalyptus populnea, commonly known as Poplar box or Bimble box is an endemic tree of Australia. It is found in central and coastal Queensland to central New South Wales. It can reach up to 25 metres tall and forms extensive open-forest communities in arid and semi-arid regions. The species is characterised by glossy, rounded dark green leaves.

Distribution and occurrence in NSW: Widespread, often dominant, in grassy woodland on moderately fertile loamy soils; north from Narrandera and Pooncarie. Technical description: The bark is persistent on trunk and larger branches, grey with whitish patches, fibrous-flaky ('box'), smooth above, glossy, grey, shedding in short ribbons. Juvenile leaves disjunct, ovate to orbiculate, dull grey-green. Adult leaves disjunct, broad-lanceolate, elliptic, ovate or rhomboidal, 5–11 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, green, glossy, concolorous. Conflorescence compound; umbellasters 7–11-flowered; peduncle terete, 5–11 mm long; pedicels terete, 1–3 mm long. Buds clavate to ovoid, 3–5 mm long, 2–3 mm diam., scar present; calyptra hemispherical to conical, shorter than and as wide as hypanthium. All stamens fertile. Fruit hemispherical or conical, 2–4 mm long, 2–5 mm diam.; disc depressed; valves enclosed or rim-level.

In the north of its range the species intergrades with the closely related E. brownii which is very similar in appearance with more lanceolate leaves.

E. populnea commonly forms stands with other species such as mulga and Eremophila mitchellii.

E. populnea coastal Central Queensland.

References

Brooker, M.I.H. & Kleinig, D.A. Field Guide to Eucalyptus, Bloomings, Melbourne 2001