Eucalypts of Western Australia

Eucalypt is a descriptive name for woody plants with capsule fruiting bodies belonging to seven closely related genera (of the tribe Eucalypteae) found across Australasia:
''Eucalyptus'', '' Corymbia'', '' Angophora'', '' Stockwellia'', ''Allosyncarpia'', '' Eucalyptopsis'' and ''Arillastrum''.

Taxonomy

For an example of changing historical perspectives, in 1991, largely genetic evidence indicated that some prominent ''Eucalyptus'' species were actually more closely related to ''Angophora'' than to other eucalypts; they were accordingly split off into the new genus ''Corymbia''.

Although separate, all of these genera and their species are allied and it remains the standard to refer to the members of all seven genera ''Angophora'', ''Corymbia'', ''Eucalyptus'', ''Stockwellia'', ''Allosyncarpia'', ''Eucalyptopsis'' and ''Arillastrum'' as "eucalypts" or as the eucalypt group.

The extant genera ''Stockwellia'', ''Allosyncarpia'', ''Eucalyptopsis'' and ''Arillastrum'' comprise six known species, restricted to monsoon forests and rainforests in north-eastern Australia, the Arnhem Land plateau, New Guinea, the Moluccas and New Caledonia. These genera are recognised as having evolved from ancient lineages of the family Myrtaceae. According to genetic, fossil and morphological evidence, it is hypothesised that they evolved into separate taxa before the evolution of the more widespread and well-known genera ''Eucalyptus'', ''Corymbia'' and ''Angophora'', and all of their many species.

'' Eucalyptus deglupta'' has naturally spread the furthest from the Australian geographic origin of the genus ''Eucalyptus'', being the only species known growing naturally in the nearby northern hemisphere, from New Guinea to New Britain, Sulawesi, Seram Island to Mindanao, Philippines. '' Eucalyptus urophylla'' also grows naturally as far west as the Flores and Timor islands.

Adaptations

Eucalypts from fire-prone habitats are attuned to withstand fire in several ways:
* Their seeds are often held in an insulated capsule, which opens only in response to and after the devastation of a bushfire. Once cooled down, the land becomes a freshly fertilised seed bed.
* Oils in the leaves tend to make the fire more severe and therefore more damaging to less attuned species, giving an evolutionary advantage to the eucalypts.
Epicormic buds under the often thick bark of the trunk and branches are ready to sprout new stems and leaves after a fire.

These advantages work well in areas affected by long dry spells.

Over 700 eucalypt species dominate landscapes all over Australia, but diversity is reduced in rainforests and arid environments.

See also

*'' Orthorhinus cylindrirostris''

References

External links

Plant Guide: Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora
at Australian Native Plants Society

Eucalypt Research
at Currency Creek Arboretum

{{Commons category, Eucalyptus

Eucalypt
Myrtaceae
Plant common names